City council headquarters evacuated after fire

Wisps of smoke or steam were seen rising from City Hall

A city hall was evacuated after a fire in a clock tower.

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service was called to Norwich City Hall, in St Peters Street, at 07:53 BST.

Crews from Carrow and Earlham used drones with thermal imaging cameras to check for hot spots as they dealt with the fire.

Norwich City Council, which is based in the building, said it appeared the "small electrical fire" started in a motor in the clock tower.

"We're grateful to our fire service colleagues for their swift response," it added in a statement.

Staff had been evacuated but were able to return to their desks at about 08:45.

Peeling gold gilding

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council has spent more than £10,000 servicing and repairing the clock tower in the last five years.

The clock tower had its electrical motor replaced by specialist engineers in July.

Eight years ago, it underwent a £200,000 restoration, which has been criticised after the gold gilding began peeling in January this year.

In 2019, the clock was halted for 12 days to fix its gears and in 2021 it suffered repeated malfunctions.

Problems again arose in October 2023 when the clocks changed for winter daylight saving, causing it to only display midday or midnight.

The timekeeper also stopped for three months in 2017 to allow for repairs to City Hall's tower.