FREEMASONS from Maldon helped contribute to a £2,500 job to refurbish a clock tower in Tollesbury.

St Mary’s Church in the village has had the clock installed since the 1880s, but this year was in serious need of refurbishment.

The Friends of St Mary’s group managed to raise most of the funds needs to strip and clean the entire clock mechanism and replace some parts and renew the cables. The work will be carried out over the summer

The Freemasons of Beeleigh Abbey Lodge in Maldon aided by donating £250 to the church.

The cheque was presented on May 30 under the church clock by Gordon Carpenter, a resident of Tollesbury and Beeleigh Abbey Lodge's most senior member.

Receiving the contribution was Mike Bell, chairman of the Friends of St. Mary's who was accompanied by the group’s treasurer Jeremy Heigham.

Mr Heigham said: “It’s quite likely that some of the components of the clock had been in place since it was erected in the 1880s. I’m very pleased to have achieved our goal in 2018.

“The clock and indeed the tower, will open on the afternoon of Sunday September 16 should anyone wish to come and inspect the work and enjoy the views of the surrounding area from the tower.”