FIREFIGHTERS had to be called in to make an historic clock safe after it was attacked by vandals.

The cast-iron timepiece in the centre of York, at St Martin-le-Grand Church, in Coney Street, is a well-known landmark.

Vandals smashed the glass face of the 19th Century timepiece and officials are now studying security cameras footage that may give them the identity of the culprits.

With shards threatening to fall on unsuspecting shoppers, fire crews removed a safety cover on one side of the gilded gold leaf clock.

The clock suffered a similar attack in 1998 and cost about £1,000 to repair. This year the bill is expected to be similar.

The vicar of St Martin's, the Reverend Tony Hodge, said: "We are in touch with the clock makers about replacing the glass. But we are talking about this costing thousands, rather than hundreds of pounds.

"Someone has thrown something at the clock and put a hole right through it. I've no idea why people want to do this. It's very disappointing."

St Martin's was destroyed during a German air raid in 1942, but the clock survived.