FURTHER funding and the hard work of volunteers has enabled a project - aiming to help bring an iconic Deeside landmark back to life - to move further forward.

Enbarr Foundation director Vicki Roskams and fellow ‘Guardians’ of the John Summers Clock Tower have began work on restoring the dilapidated building.

More than £600,000 in grants and financial support was secured over the last 12 months from organisations including Welsh Government, Transport for Wales and Flintshire County Council.

This week, the guardians announced that further funding from Toyota had been secured. And, following an appeal for more help from the community, the group has recently received help from Deeside Round Table volunteers too.

A statement from the Guardians of the Clocktower read: "This is the week that keeps on giving. We had the amazing Deeside Round Table join us for a spot of volunteering over the weekend which was tremendous.

"This was followed by some exciting news that TOYOTA through its amazing community fund. This initiative will combine key space technology alongside key heritage techniques to create a sustainable garden to help create suds to the upcoming flood concerns and food shortages for both this area, and those that plague many rural areas around North Wales.

"The #Savetheclocktower project has a full ethos for pushing boundaries and being all inclusive to all ages and backgrounds, and allowing the community to be creative and this funding comes to support other initiatives already in place to create a little oasis hidden in this industrial landscape."

A spokesperson for Deeside Round Table added: "It must be said, our landmark Clock Tower is as iconic to Deeside as the Liver Building is to Liverpool, and it's presence still keeps the memories of its former glories very much alive. What if this absolutely monumental building that meant so much to so many families of Deeside could once again be the pinnacle of the community?

"Deeside Round Table had the pleasure of assisting with the Enbarr Foundation's vision. We were honoured to do our bit, mucking in, helping out and getting to know the many amazing volunteers there. We were treated to a tour of the building too, getting a better understanding of its past and plans for the future.

"It really shows how much a community can achieve when they are driven by the same goal. The work doesn't stop there, with still so much to do, every wheelbarrow of rubble shifted and every tree planted is a step closer to the end result.

"Imagine in years to come being able to say to your kids and grandkids whilst sat in the cafe or walking around the beautiful gardens - I helped achieve this!

"Well you absolutely can! All you have to do is spare 3 hours or as much time as you can from 10-1pm on a Saturday."

The John Summer Clock Tower building opened in 1907 and was home to the general office of Shotton Steelworks – now Tata Steel - on the banks of the River Dee, before closing in 2009 and falling into serious disrepair after being sold by the company.

With widespread plans to open a community hub, heritage skills and training centre, live events venue and much more, the Guardians are well on their way to realising their vision.

For more information or to get involved, follow Guardians of the Clocktower on Facebook or visit the website: www.savetheclocktower.co.uk.