The peal of church bells has sparked a spat which has rocked a sleepy village and led to angry phone calls, police intervention and even death threats.

The scene of this disharmony is rural Upper Beeding, near Steyning, where a retired couple living in a mobile home say they are being driven to distraction by the bell ringers of St Peter's Church.

Reverend Timothy L'Estrange, rector of the parish of Beeding, Bramber and Botolphs, said the first call was received at the church's vestry on August 2 when a group of bell-ringers was visiting from Oxford.

He said: "The first call was merely unpleasant but as the day wore on they became more and more offensive.

"In one, the caller said 'If you don't stop ringing the bells, we're going to come up there and kill you.'

"The verger was a bit surprised. By the time she had received the fourth phone call that afternoon we thought it wise to call the police."

Mr L'Estrange said the 25 bell ringers visiting the church were warned of the threats in case they encountered problems in the car park.

He said: "I don't think the people making the threats meant it but when someone uses a phrase like that you have to take notice."

The calls were eventually traced by police to the home of an elderly couple at Countryside Farm Park, an idyllic retirement spot on the edge of the village.

Both Gerald McCarthy and his wife had made them.

Mr McCarthy, 74, said: "We had to put up with about three-and-a-half hours of bell ringing. I told the vicar I hoped his bell ringers dropped dead.

"If it had been a rave or a youngster playing music at that level, they would have got into trouble. I don't see why the heavenly bodies should be exempt.

"I don't think I was unreasonable in complaining. The din went on for three-and-a-half hours but it was a lovely summer's day and I wanted to relax in the garden."

Mr McCarthy said he and his wife were later visited by police and given what he described as a "slap on the wrist" about the calls.

He said: "The threats may have been a bit strong but the noise was causing an annoyance to many people, not just me.

"I wouldn't have minded so much if we'd had some warning about the bells. It's just common courtesy. We only live three minutes away.

"And the bells aren't exactly what I'd call melodious. They are not like some of the very pretty village bells. These have a very monotonous tone."

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said both parties had been spoken to by officers and the matter had been resolved.

Mr L'Estrange said he had received no more death threats and felt it was safe for the bell-ringing to continue.

He said: "The bells have been rung every week since 1307. We won't be silencing them over one set of phone calls."

Dr Ruth Brown, secretary of the western division of the Sussex County Association of Change Ringer, said: "Bell-ringers, like everyone else, need to be considerate to others.

"But if people decide to move near a church, perhaps bell-ringing is to be expected."