A TOWN centre's historic focal point is set to be brought back into use following a £10,000 renovation.

The hands of the Victorian clock tower in Rawtenstall, which have not ticked for decades, are to be put into motion once again as part of the face-lift.

The tower, in Old Fold Gardens, off St Mary's Way, is all that remains of Holly Mount School, a grand Victorian building built in 1839.

The renovation is expected to finish at the end of July and will include three brand new faces, power supply to the clock, and illumination at night.

Spearheaded by community clean-up group Civic Pride and funded by Asda foundation cash, it has taken months to organise the renovation.

Jan Shutt, founder of Civic Pride and owner of Bank Street boutique Sunday Best, set about trying to bring the clock back into use more than a year ago by searching for the owner and appealing for clock experts to help her fix it.

Civic Pride organised a clean up of the garden area with the help of Rossendale Council and since then its team leader, Ruth Astin, has worked with council officers on the quest to repair the clock.

An expert has offered his services free of charge to repair the clock.

After receiving land maps from developer Stephen Ashworth, of Hurstwood, it was discovered that the garden is owned by Rossendale Council and the clock is owned by neighbouring Asda.

However the plans were almost thwarted last week when it was discovered there was no power supply to the clock.

Jan said: "I asked David Rigby, a former council officer who has worked with us from the beginning, to look at lighting and between us and chief executive Carolyn Wilkins and Asda, we have agreed that an electricity meter will be put inside the tower and there will be lights to light the clock.

"I think Asda wanted to put something back into the community so has donated the money for the work."

Asda is also asking school children from Haslingden Primary School to name the clock's five faces.

They will also be invited to the unveiling ceremony.

Store manager Andy Davies said: "The clock is a striking and significant feature of the Rawtenstall town centre's heritage.

"It holds an important place in Rawtenstall's history, and we are delighted to start the clock ticking again."

The ASDA Foundation is investing a total of £40,000 in Rossendale in various projects, including the remodelling of Haslingden Primary school's playground.

The ASDA Foundation is ASDA's charitable trust set up to support local good causes.