THE magnificent Victorian clock tower overlooking Darlington's market square and historic High Row is the town's most iconic landmark and its bells have chimed on the hour and every 15 minutes for more than 150 years.

The sound of the bells is clearly not to everyone's taste. There have been complaints from guests staying in a town centre hotel that the bells keep them awake and, with Darlington desperate to attract more visitors, those protests have to be given due consideration.

But it appears that Darlington Borough Council dropped a bit of clanger by replacing the traditional bells with a £6,000 PA system of pre-recorded chimes which could be switched off at night. Having underestimated the public reaction, a U-turn has been swiftly performed and the old bells rightly restored.

It may not be a large sum of money in the context of a council's budget but in the midst of austerity, when we are repeatedly told that every penny counts, it is understandable that opposition councillors and traders are asking questions about why the money was spent without more consultation.

Where would the line be drawn if clock tower bells were to be silenced in the face of complaints? Towns and villages across the country would lose a tradition which produces one of the defining sounds of British life.

Darlington is a great town with a fascinating history and it is the ideal base for visiting the North-East. We love visitors coming but they'll just have to put up with our bells.

And a refund on the PA system would buy a lot of ear-plugs.