Mass bell-ringing heralds Olympics opening – WBNews

Media captionPeople across the UK took part in the bell ringingThousands of bells have rung out across the UK to mark the official start of the Olympic Games. Big Ben rang 40 times in three minutes, while church bells, doorbells and even bicycle bells all joined in the performance. The event was triggered by the firing of cannon on HMS Belfast. Turner Prize-winner Martin Creed dreamed up the idea, calling it “a brilliant and amazing sound” and a “once-in a lifetime” performance. Some participants had a narrow escape, however, when a bell being rung by culture secretary Jeremy Hunt flew off its handle. Media captionJeremy Hunt’s bell-ringing clangerMr Hunt looked horrified as the brass bell sailed over the heads of a group of women, and was caught on camera saying: “Oh, oh dear! Are you all right? Health and safety!” Workout Entitled Work No 1197: All the bells in a country rung as quickly and as loudly as possible for three minutes, the project aimed to set a new world record for the largest number of bells being rung simultaneously. “It’s a piece of music for a special occasion,” Creed told BBC Breakfast. “Bells are the loudest acoustic instrument – that’s why they’re used by churches.” Ruth Mackenzie, director of the London 2012 Festival, joined the 300 children, sea cadets, brownies and Town Criers on board HMS Belfast. “I can scarcely hear a thing,” she said immediately after the event. “A young woman next to me said it was like…more detail