The bells of the city’s major church will ring for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

A group of trained individuals will ring the ten bells of St Peter’s Church at a new service on Sunday for the first time in almost three years.

Covid restrictions meant the bells at the church had fallen silent since March 2020, but they will ring out across Brighton and Hove for the Carols By Candlelight service.

A spokesman for the church said: “We invite members of the community to join us after our service in this festive tradition and celebrate the holiday season.

“The sound of the bells ringing out over the city will be a joyful reminder that better days are ahead.”

Built over four years between 1824 and 1828, St Peter’s Church is unofficially known as “Brighton’s cathedral”. It narrowly avoided permanent closure in 2009 after a team reopened the building and rebuilt a community around the church.

Over Christmas, St Peter’s Church will host Midnight Mass from 11pm on Christmas Eve, as well as a Christmas Day Spectacular.