A PUB landlord played the sound of a 12-bell peal in an effort to stop planners passing a bell tower application at a St John's school.

The new 75 foot bell tower and performing arts centre plan at Christopher Whitehead Language College in Bromwich was set to go before Worcester City Council today at the Guildhall in Worcester.

Residents gathered to oppose the application at The Brunswick Arms, opposite the school, playing the bells to councillors to show the effect the tower might have on them, claiming that the reported 112 decibel sound will disrupt their lives significantly.

Planners heard a 12-bell soundttrack recorded in 2006 at the 12-bell striking contest held at Worcester Cathedral.

Chris Hankins, landlord of the pub said: "Many people have a romantic wedding bell, Sunday morning opinion of church bell ringing. Fine.

"This proposal is a very different animal, 12-bell peals are non-musical mathematical progressions- relentless and monotonous to the ordinary man.

"That is why councillors need to hear 12-bell change ringing in order to make an informed decision.

"Most objectors believe that the cathedral bell ringers have placed undue influence on the school insisting that if a 12-bell tower is not built there will be no funding for the performance arts centre.

"Be that as it may, the problem is that 'undue influence' is not a planning concern.

"Sound pollution on the other hand is.

"Church bells are a special case. They are designed to catch people's attention above other noises and are raised high in a tower so they can be heard far and wide.

"The sound inside the bell tower starts off at 112 decibels- enough to give permanent hearing damage within minutes. Sound gradually diminishes with distance."

Mr Hankins also asked for restrictions to be placed on the tower if it does go ahead, including students are not subjected to excessive noise near the tower, that only students ring the bells and the tower does not become a 'plaything' for cathedral bell ringers.

Some 12 bells have already been donated to the school from a church in Staffordshire.

Headteacher Neil Morris previously said: "This is a great cultural and educational opportunity to become the first state school to have a non-intrusive, sound proofed, iconic beautiful bell tower.

"Bell-ringing has many educational benefits as it promotes camaraderie and teamwork, provides physical exertion for fitness and is a skill proven to be mathematical and improve students’ capability to learn."

"We believe the bell tower would be advantageous to Worcester, the school and in keeping the art of bell-ringing alive."