THE BELLS at Worcester Cathedral were heard on the other side of the world during a special service on Sunday.

Bellringers from the city appeared via video link at Adelaide Cathedral, South Australia, during a dedication service to open its bellringing centre.

Adelaide has based its new bellringing training centre around the unique purpose-built training centre in Worcester.

The 100-strong congregation “down under” watched a projector screen as Dr Alvyn Pettersen, ringers’ warden of Worcester Cathedral, sent a live greeting to the congregation at the end of the dedication.

Twelve ringers, aged between 11 and 73, then sounded the bells at the conclusion of the evening service in Adelaide and the beginning of the morning service at Worcester Cathedral.

Mr Regan said there had been a “frisson of risk” while they established the internet connection but everything ran smoothly.

He said: “It was surreal, it made us realise just how small the world is.

“It was great to see how they had taken our idea and evolved it.

“It really felt like we were there and a part of something special on the other side of the world.”

Mr Regan said they would remain “digitally connected” through email and Facebook.

The invitation to take part in the service came after Mr Regan met Matthew Sorell, the Adelaide Bellringers president, in Adelaide, and discussed Adelaide Cathedral’s plans for a training centre.

The pair met again when Mr Sorell paid a visit to Worcester in August and saw the centre and rang the bells.

Mr Sorell said: “While Adelaide has dialled up the technology, Worcester leads the way in its teaching and its engagement with the community.”