The Big Ben bell in the British Parliament's famous clock tower tolled for the last time on Monday before it ceased its regular bongs for four years while renovation work is carried out.

According to foreign media reports, the hammers which have struck the 13.7 tonne bell every hour for most of the last 157 years will be locked and disconnected from the clock to ensure the safety of those working on the restoration in the tower, with the bell-ringing not returning to normal until 2021.

During the restoration work, Big Ben’s Great Clock will be dismantled piece by piece with each cog examined and restored — a process that, alone, is expected to take about two years.

Crowd gathered around Parliament to hear the final set of bongs that have been an almost constant presence, heard not just in London but around the world. Even though it will still sound to mark events such as Christmas Day and Remembrance Day.

Last week, Parliament said it would review the plans to silence the chimes for four years after the Prime Minister joined MPs’ outcry against the move.