BELLS will ring out at Worcester Cathedral on Saturday as nine teams compete in the final of the National Twelve bellringing competition.

More than 100 ringers will take part in the five-hour final after competing in three national heats at Norwich, Bristol and Southwark, London.

The contest, the biggest event in the bell-ringing calendar, attracted a record 23 teams this year, thought to be largely due to the appeal of Worcester's bells.

Worcester Cathedral is one of only 120 throughout the world that have 12 bells. They are believed to be one of the finest peals in the country, vying with York Minster, but they are also the hardest to ring.

"They are difficult to ring because the tower moves a lot," said Mark Regan, who heads the cathedral's team of 26 bellringers.

"The bells were out of action for about 10 years because the tower was unsafe, but now all the renovation work has been done, we are ringing them much more.

"We have grown a lot in the last three or four years and that enables us to host it, with the support of the dean and chapter."

It is the first time in 32 years that the competition, which includes bellringers from St Paul's Cathedral in London, has been held at Worcester Cathedral.

Other teams will be coming from Birmingham, Southwark, Bristol, Norwich, Stockton and York, as well as the Ancient Society Of College Youths and the Society Of Royal Cumberland Youths, both based in London.

The competition will start at 10.30am with a draw in College Hall and the teams will compete between 11am and 4pm. Four judges will announce the results in College Hall at 5pm.

Hundreds of visitors are expected on the day and there will be plenty for them to see and do, including bellringing exhibitions in the Chapter House, food and a beer and wine festival on College Green. To complete the Worcester experience, there will be cricket at New Road and a performance of Mozart's Requiem in the evening.