BELL ringers and a weekly news bulletin are included on a new website for the parish of St Mary the Virgin, Walkhampton.

The website was launched at the beginning of August to promote and inform everyone about the church?s activities and will continue to be developed over the coming months.

The site already contains service details, a short history of the church building, the news bulleting and details of various church groups.

There is also an on-line video showing the bell ringers hard at work.

The idea for the site came from the Rev Nick Shutt, honorary curate of St Mary?s. He said: ?Too often the church is seen as being out of touch with the modern world.

?We hope to correct that impression with the launch of our website to demonstrate that the church is still relevant to people?s lives, even in the 21st century.?

Chris Dorey of DV8 Media Ltd assisted Mr Shutt in setting up the website.

The congregation is busy raising funds to re-order the west end of the church, install toilet and kitchen facilities and provide a meeting area and improved facilities for the bell ringers ? including major work on the bell tower.

A total of £11,000 has been raised towards the cost of the project since the launch of the fund-raising appeal in October 2003.