Broken clock to return after more than 20 years

The clock will be reinstated above the top three windows of Portobello Baptist Church

A broken historic Edinburgh clock is set to tick again for the first time in more than 20 years.

The 157-year-old clock at Portobello Baptist Church is to be repaired and reinstated using £150,000 from Edinburgh's common good fund.

It had deteriorated since it was gifted to the people of Portobello in the late 19th Century by local councillor and Lord Provost James Falshaw and was removed in about 2004.

The decision to put it back in place was made by councillors at a meeting of the City of Edinburgh Council's finance and resources committee on Thursday.

The 157-year-old clock was removed in 2004 and put into storage

Once the clock is fully repaired it will be reinstalled on the outside of the building - a former town hall and cinema.

Due the property's category B listing, consultation with Historic Environment Scotland will be required to ensure any works have the necessary consents.

At least one side of the street will need to be shut for a number of days while the clock is put back in place which is expected to cause traffic delays in the area.

Mandy Watt, the council's finance and resources convener, said: "The return of Porty's historic burgh clock will be welcome news to many.

"It has been in storage for many years and it's time we got on with restoring it and putting it back in its rightful place."