Essex residents and other communities across UK have taken up the challenge of All the Bells – so much so that it has been decided to move the performance from its original time of 8am and give it a unique time all of its own. The time for the event has now been confirmed as 08:12 on 27 July, when it will be broadcast by the BBC to a live audience of over 10 million people across the UK on TV, radio and online – including BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 2 Chris Evans Breakfast Show and BBC local radio stations. Please set the time in your diaries and get ready to ring for the nation!

As a reminder the piece entitled, ‘Work No. 1197: All the bells in a country rung as quickly and as loudly as possible for three minutes’ by Turner Prize-winning artist and musician Martin Creed, will be performed throughout the UK to celebrate the first day of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (as part of the London 2012 Festival ) and to welcome the 205 nations to the UK.

Essex County Councillor Jeremy Lucas, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Environment and Culture urged everyone to participate saying “The uptake on this shows how everyone in the country is getting into the whole Olympic experience so I encourage everyone in Essex to join in the fun by ringing their bells and show the world how excited we are in Essex to be hosting the mountain bike competition at Hadleigh”

 What sort of bell can you ring?  From church bells to door bells and everything in between – so come on Essex let’s make some noise.  Whatever you’re doing – ringing your front door bell, your bike bell, your school bell, or even your alarm clock.  Are you having a  street party to ring all sorts of bells together – whatever you’re doing we want to know, so film the event and send your short clip to london2012@essex.gov.uk  Add your ringing location to the big event map at www.allthebells.com  

For more information on this and to find out what other London 2012 celebrations are happening in your area check out www.essexlegacy.org.