LONDON -- There are few things in Britain more iconic than Big Ben, the giant clock that stands out above London and spends its day cheerfully bonging away the hours.

Big Ben has appeared in films and TV series, and -- crucially to this story -- the sound of its bongs regularly feature on the intro to BBC Radio 4's news bulletins.

The problem is, Big Ben needs repairs -- and for a few months it's bongs (which are live on Radio 4, not pre-recorded) will be out of action.

As a regular Radio 4 listener, eight-year-old Phoebe Hanson was concerned by this.

"Phoebe, my daughter, wrote a letter to the PM show on BBC Radio 4 worried about how they are going to lead up to the 6 o'clock news with Big Ben being out of action next year," wrote her father Jon Hanson on Facebook. "She offered her services to fill in and say BONG for them, their response was priceless..."

The reply, sent by the BBC's Roger Sawyer, is indeed on-point.

Here's Sawyer's letter in full.

Brilliant work.