St Mary Magdalene Church, Taunton, receives £5,000 from Gannett Foundation

The Gannett Foundation, run on behalf of Newsquest Media Group, has pledged to donate the final £5,000 of a £310,000 appeal to replace the bells at St Mary Magdalene Church.

It means fundraisers only have to find £6,000 before they are handed our cheque, which will see them hit their target.

"That's wonderful news," said tower captain Rosemary Tuhey, who is the project manager.

"Being so close to the target lets people know that it's really going to happen and they are giving money generously.

"We're very grateful to the Gannett Foundation and everyone else who has donated for their generosity."

The old bells were rung for the last time on January 1 and once the 15 replacements and a carillon have been cast along with a new framework, the new ones should be installed in late October ahead of the festive season.

Volunteers have been busy removing the fixtures and fitting and preparing the belfry ahead of the old bells being removed at the start of May.

The chairman of the fund trustees, Simon Westrop, head of legal at Newsquest, said picking St Mary's and 49 other charitable causes across the country to share a £250,000 pot was a hard task.

He added: "Of course there are lots of demands on donors from charities serving the sick, disabled and poor.

"As local news publishers, we think we can also make a difference on a less obvious and simpler level.

"So, we are always just as pleased to make relatively small but creative gifts to encourage activities of all kinds that enrich the daily lives of the people who read our brands."

Ringers from other areas of the country visited St Mary's on New Year's Day to take part in the last time they were played.

The last time the bells of St Mary's fell silent was when the tower was rebuilt between 1859 and 1862.

Dionne Norman and Adam John had the honour of being the last couple to marry in the church before the bells were rung for the last time.