A row has broken out after a Staffordshire church's clock chimes were silenced following a noise complaint.

St Margaret's Church in Wolstanton said its clock had chimed since 30 September 1889 without any issue, except during the two world wars and maintenance periods.

However, it said it had been instructed to silence the clock following a complaint from a local resident to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.

Council leader Jonathan Gullis said he wanted "common sense to reign supreme" and would take personal responsibility to resolve the situation.

The church said it was unfeasible for the clock to be switched off manually each day, but Gullis told BBC Radio Stoke it might be possible to install a mechanical solution.

"I don't want to promise the mechanical solution can work yet because we haven't even found out what technology is needed, how easy it is to install, and what the cost of that comes to.

"But if I can do it, and if I can afford it, 100% will do that," he said.

"I will make sure that I personally take control of this situation, look into what's happened, come back and give you a full update."

He said council staff had simply followed statutory guidance and the rules.

"All I can say is no councillor was involved in any decision-making part of this process," he said.

Jennifer Machin, who has been bellringing in the village for 63 years, said her thoughts about the silencing were "very unchristian" and that she was missing the regular chimes.

"The village lives with the church and the clock," she added.

"We're not pleased, not best pleased at all."

Another resident, Robert Poole, who has lived in the area for about 50 years, said the bells were part of the character of the village.

"For it to be stopped for one person complaining, I think it's outrageous," he said.

"I think they should've left it as it is – deal with the complaint and then decide.

"People don't buy houses next to a church if church bells are going to bother them.

"It's part of the history of Wolstanton."

Meanwhile, resident Dom Daniels, said it was "quite disheartening".

He added that, since the age of seven, he has been helping his dad wind the clock, he said.

"To have to stop the chimes that the public absolutely love, it's quite sad."

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