The e-petition has been launched on the Downing Street website by a nearby resident Tom Walker, who says: “The Minster bells go off every 15 minutes and every hour, 24 hours a day. We find it hard to sleep and it's driving us mad because it’s near our house. We know it's a very old building but they should stop the bells.”

The petition is calling for the bells to be silenced between 10pm and 8am. It has so far received 10 responses, some of which are defending the chimes.

And the Minster Vicar, the Rev Canon David Bailey, says the church has received a great deal of response from the public supporting the bells.

He said: “We have had a great deal of support about the bells and their regular chiming. Residents have been 100 per cent supportive - I think people find the bells at night time very reassuring.”

Canon Bailey said there had been occasional complaints about the bells in the past, from people who find it difficult to get used to their regular chiming.

But he added: “We know from the much stronger reaction when they are out of action how their sound is valued by Beverley residents. The bells have been the signature tune of the town for very many years and anyone moving into the area is bound to be aware of them when they decide to come. I think the vast majority of Beverley people would be very sad indeed if they were to be silenced, even in the night-time.”