A Rhode Island man has filed a lawsuit against his local church, claiming that its bells rang up to 700 times a week and led to the demise of his marriage.

John Devaney, 64, has alleged that the bells of St Thomas More Catholic Parish and St Veronica Chapel in Narragansett, has wrecked his life, the Daily Telegraph reported.

In his court papers, Devaney said that the bells "clapped" and "gonged" and that led to emotional distress, bad moods and arguments with his now former wife.

He has requested the court to ask the church to reduce the number of bell claps and gongs.