"Out like a lamb - and in like a lion." That's the traditional approach to bell ringing in Dorset on New Year's Eve: the old year goes out like a lamb and the new one comes in like a lion - an effect achieved by muffling the bells so they can be rung more quietly before midnight, then the muffles are taken off, and the bells sing out.

It's a particularly special occasion this year in the village of Chideock, near Bridport in West Dorset, as it will be the first time that the bells have been rung to celebrate New Year's Eve, following a major restoration project. The Chideock ringers are also expecting to be joined by ringers from the nearby village of Whitchurch Canonicorum.

This video shows Dave Symonds, the popular Marshwood Vale thatcher and Captain of the Bells at St Giles Church in Chideock, muffling bells late in the afternoon of December 31, 2012 - in preparation for the party to come.

Please note: This is a lower-resolution video than will normally be loaded up on this channel but it's been quickly done so it can be seen while New Year's Eve still has a few hours to go!