ONE of Shrewsbury’s best-known landmarks will be given a new lease of life.

Shrewsbury Market Hall’s historic clock face will receive some tender loving care while scaffolding for essential maintenance work remains in place.

The works will be undertaken by specialists Smith of Derby, who have more than 150 years experience of clock making, repairs and refurbishment.

The work will include repainting the clock hands and fitting LED lights to illuminate the individual dial hour markers.

Kate Gittins, site facilities manager at the market, said: “The scaffolding that is currently in place around the building provides an ideal opportunity to carry out repair work to the clock face to improve the illumination.

“The Market Hall clock and tower is one of the town’s most recognisable features and we are delighted to be able to restore this historic timepiece to its former glory.”

The Market Hall officially opened in 1965. The building, which cost around £1 million and was developed by Second Covent Garden Property Co Ltd, stands on the site of the old Market Hall which was built in 1869.

The clock itself was made by London based firm Thwaites and Reed Ltd and is 14 foot in diameter.

The minute hand is a staggering seven foot long with the hour hand coming in at five foot.