FOR over 80 years, the clock at Newtown Methodist Church in Great Yarmouth has been a familiar landmark to the town’s residents.

But three years ago, the hands on the clock face, which is the size of a small table, stood still as time finally caught up with the clock, which used to have a chime that could be heard as far away as Yarmouth Racecourse.

By coincidence, the clock on the Caister Road church stopped working shortly after the death of a local horologist who for 12 years had been responsible for winding up the clock so it worked.

Now a three-strong committee from the church is hoping to raise �8,000 to restore the timepiece to its former glory and has so far collected �2,500.

The church’s secretary Paul Cooper said a mechanical fault caused the clock to stop, though old age was likely to have contributed to the problem and pieces are missing from the face, which has been affected by the weather.

He said: “Bus passengers used to look at it as the bus passed the church and people used to check and set their watches to it. It was a familiar landmark in the area.”

Although the campaign has already received donations from a number of benefactors, including former Yarmouth mayor Tony Smith, the committee has not been granted lottery funding.

Mr Cooper said an expert provided a number of quotes to have the work done and the committee opted to have the clock replaced with a new electric motor installed.

A jumble sale will be held at the church hall on April 30 between 11am and 1pm to raise money for the clock appeal.

To donate to the appeal write to the treasurer Heather Westrup, 6 Collingwood Road, Great Yarmouth.