A church clock is to start chiming again thanks to a £4,000 restoration.

The work at St Peter’s Church in Arthington is to be part-funded by a £2,000 grant that has just been approved by the North West (Outer) Area Committee.

The listed Victorian church clock, which uses a manual winding system that leaves it prone to faults, has been out of action for the past year or so.

But the funds – along with a £1,000 donation from Arthington Parish Council, with the rest of the costs being covered by the church elders – will be used to install a replacement electrified system that should ensure the timepiece runs smoothly again.

Area committee member Councillor Barry Anderson (Con, Adel & Wharfedale) said: “I’m delighted we could contribute this funding. It will be great to see Arthington’s church clock’s hands pointing to the right time once more.

“The church is an important part of the fabric of Arthington and I hope the new winding mechanism will keep it accurate for many years to come.”

Councillor Clive Fox (Con, Adel & Wharfedale) added: “Besides being a city councillor, I have been an Arthington parish councillor for 30 years.

“Over that time, the parish council has from time to time, in some small way, helped to maintain the church which dates from 1864 – and is the most prominent public building in the village.

“Though it became redundant as a parish church on account of the small village population, the building gained a new lease of life in 2007 when it became the Coptic Christian Church serving a wide area of Yorkshire.

“The church and the parish council have only limited funds, so it is a good outcome that we as ward councillors have been able to step in by match-funding the project to finally get it under way.”