LUMIERE had so many breathtaking installations in its first four showings, and one of the centrepieces of its fifth is set to be just as dramatic.

Sections of Durham Cathedral, inside and out, are being illuminated and timed with the bells of the 1,000-year-old Norman structure using sensors.

Methods, by Spanish artist Pablo Valbuena, is one of the major installations at the 2017 festival, which started last night and runs until Sunday. It showcases the talents of bell ringers from the North-East and further afield as they demonstrate English change ringing.

The installation will feature live six-hour performances on each of the four nights of Lumiere and will include traditional ringing patterns alongside more experimental pieces.

Dean of Durham, the Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett says: “Method change ringing is unique to England. It is not something that is done in other countries.

“This is a first in the world and it is a visualisation in light of what is going in the bell chamber, which is an incredible idea.

“In previous years, the cathedral has been a canvas on to which an image is projected, but this time it is part of the installation itself.”

About 60 volunteer bell ringers perform in Methods. They come from a diverse range of backgrounds and professions and range in age from 20 to 70.

Most are from the North-East, with additional ringers from Cambridge, London and the Midlands.

The Dean says: “It is an amazing festival and occasion. It is a very big event and the largest that is happening in the UK during the month.

“Bringing a quarter of million people into Durham over the four days is a great cultural, social and economic opportunity for Durham and the region.

“It is a great opportunity to shine a light on Durham. I am thrilled to be part of it and the installations around the cathedral are very exciting.”

The cathedral has worked closely with Pablo Valbuena and Artichoke to devise the dynamic, audio-visual art installation, which puts a contemporary twist on bell-ringing.

Durham Cathedral’s Bell Major Christopher Crabtree, 33, who works as an engineering lecturer at Durham University, says: “We are very excited to be involved so closely in Methods.

“The installation provides a unique opportunity to reimagine the art of English-style change ringing to provide a visual as well as an auditory experience.

“Every performance during the festival will be different, as each will be created by the skills of many different bell-ringers working together.

“Methods is a distinctive piece which fuses the traditional art of bell-ringing with a large-scale visual installation in a publicly-accessible manner.”

The cathedral has ten bells, which are rung regularly for services and special events, the heaviest of which weighs 1.4 tonnes.

The oldest five bells date from 1693. Two new bells were added when the bell frame was replaced in 1980.

Due to their age and height in the tower, the bells can be challenging to ring and test even the most skilled ringers.

Festival producer Kate Harvey says: “Lumiere is a four day temporary transformation of the city of Durham and people who are familiar with the city can see it in new ways, explore new quarters of the city and make new acquaintances with parts they are already familiar with.

“We invite artists from all over the world to come and respond to the city of Durham or the people of County Durham and create pieces that are going to really change the way the city looks and feels and to create extraordinary moments of magic.”

*See Tuesday's Northern Echo for an eight-page Lumiere souvenir picture special.