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Big Ben will chime 40 times in three minutes on Friday as part of a mass bell-ringing event marking the start of the Olympics. It is believed to be the first time the bell has rung outside its regular schedule since 15 February, 1952. On that occasion, it tolled every minute for 56 strokes for the funeral of King George VI. Friday's event will be part of an art project encouraging everyone across the UK to ring a bell at 08:12 on Friday. It was conceived by Turner Prize-winner Martin Creed, who has called the event Work No. 1197: All the bells in a country rung as quickly and as loudly as possible for three minutes. Organisers hope it will set a world record for the largest number of bells rung simultaneously. For its part, Big Ben will have to be rung by hand, unlike the hourly chimes, which are automated. All The Bells will involve church bells, doorbells, cowbells and more - with events planned around the country. In Coventry, cyclists will gather outside the Transport Museum to ring their bicycle bells. Scientists from the Cambridge-based British Antarctic Survey will also be taking part - even though they have no bells in their research station. Instead, they will be "ringing" and banging whatever they can lay their hands on, from kitchen pots to bedpans. Other participants include the Royal Navy, HMS Belfast, British Embassies worldwide and the famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry. | 
