A CHURCH clock face where time has stood still for months is set to be taken down for repairs.

The clock at St Cuthbert's Church, in Darlington, which is more than century old, which has not worked for some time, will be restored after more than two-years of fundraising.

The clock face will be taken down next week before being taken to Derby for refurbishment.

It is a major operation, as the faces are about three metres in diameter and weigh 305kg.

Meanwhile, the clock itself will have an extensive overhaul, scheduled to take 10 weeks.

Paul Gilmore, from St Cuthbert's Church, said the church had no choice but to stop the clock, which has not had any major work since 1957, because of considerable deterioration.

He said: "Rust was causing the two faces to begin to slowly move away from the base of the spire. Some of the numerals had fallen away and others needed to be removed before they fell to the recently repaired roof.

The Northern Echo:

"Additionally, the minute hands were off balance, placing the clock mechanism under major stress.

"This, combined with general wear and tear, meant that the clock was in serious danger of major damage, and of possibly becoming unsafe."

The Friends of St Cuthbert launched a major appeal for funds in May 2018, with the help of the Northern Echo's Chris Lloyd.

Since then, the committee, spearheaded by treasurer Gill Tiffin, has worked tirelessly to raise £17,000 towards the cost of the work, and is now in a position to get it done.

The Northern Echo:

Among the fundraising efforts have been a replica clock tour, which has visited various town centre venues and a ‘clock drive’– a variation on a traditional beetle drive – and French evening in the church hall.

Work is due to start on Monday, with the clock faces scheduled for removal at the start of the week.

The main contractor is Smith of Derby, which amalgamated with Potts of Leeds, the company which made the clock, in 1935.

They will be working with local steeplejacks Taylor Hastwell to begin taking the clock faces apart prior to lowering them to the ground and transporting them to Derby.

Further funding came from from the church’s building fund, £2,000 from the Pilgrim Trust in London, while £800 was raised by Michael Potts, descendant of William Potts, who founded the Leeds company, donated copies of his history of the firm.