A CHURCH has been given the green light to broadcast the sound of church bells through loudspeakers after a council approved their plans.

St John the Baptist erected four speakers on a 10m post outside the building to celebrate its 125th anniversary earlier this year.

But the parish had faced a barrage of complaints from angry neighbours, who claimed the recordings breached their human rights and would encourage others to broadcast recordings through loudspeakers among other grievances.

Officials at South Lanarkshire Council then told the parish priest Father Dominic Towey he had to curb playback of the recording and apply for planning permission.

Now it has emerged the church's bells have hit the right note with the Hamilton Area Committee planning after the church's application was given the go-ahead.

Fr Towey was last night in Ireland and unavailable for comment.

Speaking earlier, he said: "We are disappointed and hurt that in 21st century Scotland there are still a small minority that seem offended at the sound of Christians, in this case Roman Catholics, being called to worship by a church bell."

Objectors to the proposal said false claims had been spread around that they were motivated by religious prejudices.

These concerns were acknowledged by the committee who said that the decision would be based solely on valid planning grounds.

A spokeswoman for South Lanarkshire Council said: "All items discussed at the Hamilton Area Committee were passed as per their recommendations.

"This included the development of a 10m high pole with four loudspeakers to provide church bells at St John the Baptist Church, 136 Lower Gate, Uddingston."

In total only eight letters of complaint were received by the council, while there were nearly 300 letters in support for the application.

The sound of the bells will now be played from Monday to Saturday at 12 noon and 6pm, with a blast at 10am, 12 noon and 6pm on a Sunday.

The recording is also used before morning, noon and evening mass.

Last night the Motherwell Diocese voiced their approval of the decision.

A spokesman said: "It was an unfortunate situation as there is a lovely Church of Scotland just down the road with bells as well and there has never been a problem so this was all a surprise.

"But we don't want to be trumphalist about this, we're just happy things have been amicably resolved.

"We have every sympathy with people who have objected. But in this day and age when some of the noise pollution about is so prevalent, the sound of church bells is nothing by comparison.

"Hopefully in time people will recognize the bells are for a very good purpose."