Organisers of Thurso’s Hogmanay street party have been given a timely boost after the town’s clock was restored to full working order.
The clock’s hands had been stuck firmly at five to seven since it was disabled by a bolt of lightning four months ago.
But the timepiece on the tower of St Peter’s and St Andrew’s Church in Princes Street is now back to normal, with the new mechanism to include a device to protect it should lightning strike again.
The development was yesterday welcomed by Tracey Taylor, who chairs Hogmanay in Thurso, organisers of the New Year bash which takes place in front of the church.
“The countdown to the bells makes our Hogmanay celebration more dramatic when people can look up and see the clock ticking towards midnight and then striking 12 times,” she said.
“We’re very pleased to see it working again.”
The mother board of the circuit was burnt out during the strike on the evening of August 5.
The repair was carried out by Highland Council from local ward funding.
Meanwhile preparations for the street party are going well, said Ms Taylor.
“We have a small but committed group of volunteers on our committee and everything tends to run like clockwork.
“We however are always on the lookout for anyone willing to give us a hand on the night with setting up, stewarding and clearing up afterwards.”