RESIDENTS and visitors to Tavistock will soon be able to rely on the town's clock, following a decision to take action over the church tower's unreliable timepiece.

Members of the town council's properties committee last week heard that a quote and report on the faulty clock had been received from a new company, contacted last month.

Cllr Brian Trew said the new diagnosis on the clock's fault, built by the same company which manufactured Big Ben in Westminster, made 'absolute sense'.

'They are a prestigious company, and we should go with them — it's extremely good value,' he said.

Cllr Ted Sherrell agreed — and particularly welcomed the fact that the carillon, or tune-playing component, could make a welcome re-appearance.

'It was always very pleasant,' he said. 'Although it's a lot of money, in some respects, I think we ought to bite the bullet and spend it.'

The committee agreed the council should approach the Cumbria Clock Company to repair the clock — for which they had quoted a £1,995 price tag — and to maintain it on an annual basis for a further £195 per year.

The decision was due to be ratified by the full council at its meeting on Tuesday night.