Cornish bell ringers will sound a birthday peal for the Queen to mark her 90th birthday this week.

On the eve of the day itself, at 5pm on Wednesday, April 20, St Kew will begin the celebrations, and then on Thursday, April 21, the Queen’s birthday itself, the bells will ring out at Morwenstow, Poughill and Marhamchurch, where a quarter peal (some 45 minutes of continuous ringing) will be attempted.

South of the A30 South Petherwin will be ringing at 11am and then in the far south east of the Duchy Maker will celebrate the anniversary at 5pm. Callington and St Dominic will also be ringing that evening.

Truro Cathedral will ring during the morning as will Crantock at 9am and then Padstow at 2pm.

St Stephen-in-Brannel will be ringing at 4pm in conjunction with a Cornish tea taking place in the church.

Elsewhere in mid Cornwall the bells will sound forth from the towers at Bodmin, St Newlyn East, Lanlivery, Lanhydrock, Ladock and St Columb Major; at Probus there will be an attempt to ring 90 call changes.

Two days later (Saturday, April 23), many of the same towers will be ’ringing for England’ to celebrate St George’s Day and the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare.

To find contact details for bellringers at specific churches visit www.tdgr.org.uk/towers