Watch: Huge Crowd Cheers As Big Ben Falls Silent Until 2021
21 August 2017, 13:20 | Updated: 22 August 2017, 09:51
Huge crowds erupted into cheers and applause as Big Ben chimed for the final time in four years.
The world-famous bell is falling silent until 2021 so that major restoration work can be undertaken on the Elizabeth Tower.
Hundreds of people turned out in Westminster to witness the last bongs, which struck at noon on Monday.
- Big Ben's bongs fall silent amid renovations ding dong
However, the decision to halt the bongs of Big Ben has faced some opposition.
Theresa May said it “can’t be right” the bell will be silent for four years, while some Euroscpetic Tory MPs have called for the bongs to sound Britain out of the EU in March 2019.
The House of Commons Commission, which is responsible for the Palace's maintenance, has already announced it will review the timescale of the renovations.
It says it’s necessary to protect workers’ hearing from the 118-decibel ringing while the works take place.
Plans are already in place for Big Ben to sound on New Year’s Eve and Remembrance Day.
Watch Big Ben’s final chimes at the top of this page.
