HUGE crowds are expected in Bungay town centre this evening as the annual Pumpkin Festival takes place - and the bells of St Mary's Church will be chimed at 9pm.
HUGE crowds are expected in Bungay town centre this evening as the annual Pumpkin Festival takes place - and the bells of St Mary's Church will be chimed at 9pm.
The plan to ring the bells has caused a lot of controversy over the past two weeks. The Friends of St Mary's have decided to allow it - but a lack of ringers means one bell will be chimed, rather than there being a peal of the bells for half an hour.
Martin Evans, chairman of the Friends, said because of other commitments bellringing captain Mark Walland had been unable to get a team of six together.
"I understand one ringer declined but others were simply not available on the night," he said.
He said he hoped pumpkin night would be a fun evening and people would take it all in the right spirit.
Churches Together in Bungay have condemned the ringing of the church bells for the event because they say its origins are in pagan festival rites.
The Pumpkin Festival is organised by Bridge Street Feasts and Festivals, and is based in Bridge Street, which will again be lined with hundreds of pumpkins, but this year it has been expanded into the town centre with activities and shops open. It all starts at 6pm.
See letters, page 8
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