Electronic sensors will allow trainee bellringers at a Victorian church in Cumbria, northern England, to practise their art without disturbing local residents.

The digital simulator, which has been described as 'Guitar Hero for bellringers' after the musical video game, will be installed at St James' Church in Barrow-in-Furness, thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Times reported.

The kit makes it possible to ring the church's eight bells silently, using software to reproduce the sound through speakers or headphones.

The development will allow the church to open up its bell-tower to newcomers without subjecting local residents to their efforts.

The Times pointed out that parish churches commonly face complaints from those who object to the sound of bellringing practice, leading to government ministers announcing planning guidelines last month to protect churches from 'unreasonable restriction' on their bellringing imposed by local councils.

Each of the bells at St James' Church with have a magnetic sensor placed on it so during a practice session, the clappers are fixed in place so that they do not strike the bells, with the sensors connected to a laptop while the bells are pulled via ropes as normal.

Andrew Pollock, the tower captain, told the newspaper: 'This will help recruit and preserve bell ringing as part of our living heritage for years and generations to come.'