The main structure of the Hope Bell, which will mark the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on local communities, was installed at Queen's Park in Loughborough.

Fittingly made on behalf of the Council by local company John Taylor & Co, the last major bellfoundry in the UK, the Hope Bell is a clock chime installation comprising four quarter chime bells and the main Hope Bell to sound the hours.

The whole thing is 7.5 metres high and weighs 7.5 tonnes. Foundations for the bell were put in place over the summer and the four pillars and the bells were installed by Taylor’s. The process took most of the day and involved a crane lifting the different elements into place.

A band of gold-coloured aluminium will be wrapped around the top, encircling the bells, and giving a visual feeling of sound emanating from them. A poem will be inscribed around the band.

The stone base will be added in the coming weeks before the area is landscaped. The installation is due to be completed by October and power will then need to be added to operate the bells to make them chime.