´óÏó´«Ã½

A town's landmark has been "mindlessly vandalised", causing thousands of pounds' worth of damage.

The antique clock on top of the town council's HQ in Lampeter, Ceredigion, had its glass face smashed and hands broken after someone climbed scaffolding to get to it.

The clock, which has been in place since the late 1800s, is being restored after the town council applied for a grant to get the work done.

Posting on Facebook, members are said to be "devastated" and are asking anyone with any information to contact them or the police, who are investigating.

The post read: "Lampeter Town Council is devastated to report that, after all the hard work that has been involved in securing a grant to restore the town hall clock, it has been mindlessly vandalised.

"An individual, or a group, climbed the scaffolding and broke into the tower, smashing the antique glass and breaking the hands of the clock causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to this iconic landmark.

"If anyone has any information regarding this crime, please contact Lampeter police, who are investigating the crime, or contact a town council member."

The current town hall on Lampeter's High Street was completed in 1881, replacing the original from 1818.

The clock, which sits on its roof, is situated under a curved dome and was made by a Croydon-based company which produced 14,000 such items during its 112 year run.

As the one-time temporary home to the newly-formed Cardiganshire County Council, the building's main hall hosted the trial of Captain William Killick, who was accused and eventually acquitted of attempting to murder the poet Dylan Thomas in March 1945.