YOUNG villagers in a community where time has stood still for two years will lead the way in a project to get their church clock working again.

The Trimdon War Memorial Clock, installed at St Paul's Church, Trimdon Station, County Durham, in 1950, seized up two years ago and has not worked since.

Pupils at Deaf Hill Primary School, in the village, are about to launch a campaign to raise between £2,500 and £3,000 to have it repaired.

Children will start planning their cash crusade when they return to school on Monday, but already hope to gather donations from residents using charity envelopes and will update them with regular newsletters.

Church members Gerry and Avril Moroney hope the project will help get local youngsters involved in community life and teach them the importance of remembering victims of war.

Mr Moroney said: "Children came to the church this week to talk to the engineer who will restore the clock and were very enthusiastic. It will be nice for them to be involved and pull the community together, rather than hoping for a grant to have it fixed. They are also learning to appreciate why it was installed as a war commemoration."