Machynlleth clock 10 minutes slow after vandal moves hands

A landmark clock has been left running slow after a vandal climbed the tower and moved the hands.

The timepiece, in Machynlleth centre, was undergoing a £60,000 refurb when it was "manhandled" by an unknown assailant.

It is believed damage may have been caused to the newly repaired mechanism.

Police said they were investigating after a report of criminal damage was made at about 15:15 BST on Monday.

The town mayor said the person responsible reached the face by climbing scaffolding around the tower.

The clock, 150 years old in 2024, is still chiming and running - but it's about 10 minutes slow.

Machynlleth mayor, Jeremy Paige, wrote on Facebook: "Last weekend a member of our community climbed up the clock tower scaffolding and manhandled the clock hands.

"This has resulted in the clock displaying the incorrect time and most probably causing damage to the refurbished mechanism."

He said the council would now have to pay to have the movement checked and the hands reset.

The council has contacted Smith of Derby, the clockmakers working on the refurbishment, to assess any damage.

Mr Paige feared there could be "significant" repair costs and they were looking for witnesses.

The council, he said, had been told the culprit was filmed and a video posted on social media.

"It would be preferable for this person to come forward and contact us directly before we go fully down the legal route," he said.

"The cost of refurbishment is already around £60k and has taken over three years to resolve."

Future costs would be borne by the taxpayer, he said.

Fellow councillor Gareth Jones, a descendant of the builder who made the clock in 1874, could not understand why anyone would mess with the clock.

"I am related to Edward Edwards, one of the crew that built the clock, so this is a personal disappointment," he said.

Dyfed-Powys Police said inquiries were under way.