Big Ben rings out after half a decade as UK marks Armistice Day

Big Ben chimed for the first time in years today as the UK commemorated the end of World War One. Elizabeth Tower’s resident bells leapt to life after a five-year hiatus this morning while the country went silent for Armistice Day. The bells struck at 11am, opening a weekend of Remembrance services.Big Ben and its smaller counterparts in the tower went out of commission in 2017.Over the last five years, officials have carried out an £80 million restoration project that saw the legendary instruments briefly dismantled.While they tolled for the first time during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II two months ago, their latest was a landmark performance.The main bell rang 11 times this morning, marking their first Remembrance performance since their temporary decommissioning.READ MORE: Speaker describes when Parliament discovered Queen was dying Big Ben chimes for Armistice Day after years of repairs (Image: GETTY) Big Ben rang out for the first time at 11am today (Image: GETTY)They will ring another 11 times from 11am on Remembrance Sunday, starting another two-minute silence.Parliament says the silence will “mark the official moment of permanent reconnection”.Once the silence ends, they revert to pre-2017 services, with Big Ben chiming every hour and its accompanying bells every 15 minutes.But Elizabeth Tower isn’t ready for visitors yet, with some works still incomplete.DON’T MISSWoman forced to sell her 93-year-old mum’s house to cover ‘unfair’ £60,000 care home costs – PICTURESJust Stop Oil activist loses it at Sky News host in heated climate emergency clash – VIDEOUK areas at risk of going ‘underwater’ outlined in terrifying climate forecast map – MAP Several aspects of the works at Elizabeth Tower are not yet complete (Image: GETTY)Workers will then activate the tower’s power supplies and finish fire safety works.The site’s principal contractor will stay on hand for another month, until December 2022.Regular visitors can return to the tower later, as it will remain closed to the public until 2023.Officials must still install and test “new exhibition spaces” before it opens next year.