A BELLRINGER rang in the changes on his 90th birthday.

Basil Dent, who has been a bellringer for more than 40 years, celebrated his nine decades by leading a peal of bells at St Mary’s Church in Burton Bradstock.

Among the team of bellringers were those Mr Dent had taught.

Throughout his time ringing the bells his friends say he has shown ‘great dedication and determination’ in ensuring the bells at Burton Bradstock have been rung faithfully for all the main services on a Sunday, as well as for weddings, funerals and other special occasions such as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the birth of Prince George. He has also often supported ringers at other churches when there were insufficient team members available and is a long-standing member of the west Dorset branch of the Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers.

Friend Howard Bongers, said: “Churchgoers and residents of Burton Bradstock owe a huge debt of gratitude to Basil for all his efforts in training ringers and ensuring that sufficient teams have been available to ring over such a long period. “Local people and visitors often comment on their delight at hearing the bells on Sundays or at the weekly practice on Thursday evenings.”