YORK Minster says arrangements are in hand for its famous bells to be rung again at Easter by visiting bands of bellringers - as happened just before Christmas.

The cathedral controversially axed its entire team of 30 volunteer ringers last autumn over safeguarding concerns, and has recently begun trying to recruit a new team.

The bells rang out again before Christmas, despite Minster claims that people offering to help had been intimidated. The axed ringers denied intimidating anyone.

The cathedral advertised for its first paid ‘head of bell tower’ earlier this year to help the Minster recruit and establish a new band of ringers.

A spokeswoman said yesterday that the head of tower role had been offered.

“References and DBS checks are being taken up,” she said. “The DBS process can take a while.

“The head of tower will be involved in the recruitment of the new band, so recruitment won’t start until the head of tower is confirmed in post.”