THEY'RE losing all track of time in Wimborne. First the clock from Ye Olde Clock House disappeared from above an optician's business.

Now a second clock is about to be taken down from above the Walnut Tree in West Borough.

But town clerk Laurence Hewitt said there was no mystery this time.

The clock, which the Women's Institute donated to the town in 1974, needed repairing and the town council was arranging for this to be done, he said.

The problem was spotted by Anthony Oliver, chairman of the town's resources committee.

"When I noticed that the clock was slow our contractors, who adjust the clock in the autumn and spring, put it right on a couple of occasions," Cllr Oliver said.

"But it still lost time so there's clearly something wrong with it.

"Chris Mackay, a local horologist (a timepiece maker or expert), will repair the clock once we've got it down. We hope to have it back working correctly as soon as possible."

Meanwhile the clock which used to grace Ye Olde Clock House on the corner of High Street and King Street is still missing.

Scrivens the opticians removed it last October because it had been vandalised and the hands snapped off. Staff thought it was dangerous but the building is listed and no planning permission had been sought.

The company is co-operating with East Dorset District Council to put the matter right.

A spokesperson for Scrivens said the clock was being repaired and would be reinstalled as soon as it was ready, although he could not give a date.

So watchless residents must make do with the quarterjack at the Minster which chimes every 15 minutes - but they have to guess which quarter it is as there's no clock face.

First published: September 5