Fresh calls have been made for the return of Accrington’s world clock. The timepiece was installed when the town’s Arndale Centre opened in 1987.
But in October 2003 the clock stopped working and in February 2004 bosses at the centre were given planning permission to take it down.
Now calls have been made for the return of the clock after the owners of the Arndale Centre revealed that they still have it in storage.
Accrington resident June Huntingdon recently contacted the Observer to see if the clock could be relocated.
She said: "All I know is, people are under the impression that the ‘glass globe and window was specially made to fit the quite unique clock we had.
"We believe it is just stored away under the Arndale, with no plans to bring it out of hibernation.
"If it’s broken, why can’t it be repaired?
"We lost our unique ‘umbrella’, then we lost our unique clock."
In 2005 an internet campaign was launched to put the clock in the Globe Centre but this never transpired.
Standing 22ft high, the clock was located in the centre of the precinct, in front of where the WH Smith store is located today.
A sculpture of Father Time was at the top of the clock with a globe underneath.
Every hour Father Time would awake before being carried away by two cherubs in a cloud. Meanwhile the globe would spin and open to reveal a band of devils playing ‘Rock Around The Clock’.
Zane Kiyani, manager of the Arndale Centre, would not say if there were any plans to repair or restore the clock.
He added: "We still have possession of it. It is still in storage."
The clock was created by mechanical sculptor Andy Plant who has constructed pieces up and down the county.
Andy said he would be prepared to fix the clock.
He said: "I co-designed the clock with Ali Wood and we also built it.
"The idea was to be a popular, entertaining clock, nothing too deep. The clock proved very popular with visitors. It’s great there is still an interest in the clock."
