London 2012: National bell ringing marks the official start of the Olympic Games

Everything from church bells, to bicycle bells, to Big Ben, which chimed 40 times in three minutes. 


“Bells are the loudest acoustic instrument – that’s why they’re used in churches,” said performance mastermind Martin Creed to BBC Breakfast of the idea that he dreamed up. 



The three-minute nationwide performance was started by a canon salute by HMS Belfast and was an attempt to break the world record for the largest number of bells being rung at the same time.

Photo: Getty.