A RARE Victorian clock looks set be returned to its former glory in Padiham.

The clock, one of only two of its kind in the world, could soon re-take its pride of place in the town after years of lying in pieces in a town hall storeroom.

Elizabeth Bolton, clerk of Padiham Town Council, said she was in discussions with at least two bodies about restoring the town's Water Clock.

The two-faced clock was built about 150 years ago and is only one of two of its kind in the country. It is currently in bits in Padiham Town Hall where it has been stored for a number of years.

For several years the town council has been trying to get the timepiece restored. In 2004 the project collapsed at the last minute because the authority did not control the town hall where the clock was to be displayed.

Now there is fresh hope the project will go ahead after Mrs Bolton said a number of parties had showed interest in helping restore the clock.

She said: "We are in negotiations with one or two bodies about raising the profile of the clock so we can get on with the restoration.

"They are extremely interested and hopefully will help raise the profile so the restoration can start.

"The budget estimate was £2,200 but we will have to get more quotes."

The handmade clock, driven by a water wheel, was made by Jonathan Cryer of Bingley and handed down after he died.

Eventually a descendant of his moved to Padiham and took the clock with him.

It was displayed in the town's museum until it closed in 1952 and the clock then went into storage in Burnley.

Mrs Bolton said if restored the timepiece would definitely be staying in Padiham.