Victoria jubilee clock smashed by reversing lorry

A town clock, built in 1898 to mark Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, has been flattened by a lorry.

The much-loved Grade II-listed Jubilee clock in Cricklade, Wiltshire, was knocked down at about 22:00 GMT on Tuesday, according to the town council, which owns and maintains the landmark.

Chairman Mark Clarke said the clock outside the Vale Hotel in the high street, which was funded by public subscriptions, was "iconic" and that it was a "sad day" for the town.

The cast-iron clock is more than 125 years old and had its face repaired after a military vehicle hit it in 1945.

Clarke said: "The clock face was rebuilt last time. I think that shattered.

"And it obviously is completely shattered now because it's quite a tall clock and so it hit the ground, obviously, with a lot of force and a lot of noise."

The council said it had informed its insurance company and residents should "rest assured" that it would take "urgent action" to "return it to its full glory".

It also confirmed the clock would be collected on Wednesday afternoon for safe storage.

"I know the word iconic is sort of used very loosely these days, but it's certainly true of the clock in Cricklade," Clarke said.

"Thousands of people see it every day as they walk and drive through. So, it is a shock to see it lying on the ground.

"It's very badly damaged...it's cast iron, so it's shattered in various places - it's a hell of a mess."

Resident Ceri Whitehead, who has lived in Cricklade for 12 years, said the crash sounded like "massive crates falling off the back of a lorry".

"It has always been there, it's like part of the furniture and it's definitely a focal point especially with Christmas coming up - they decorate it.

"We're not going to have it decorated this year by the looks of it."

Whitehead also said the town could not sustain the amount of traffic and "lorry after lorry" driving through it.

Swindon resident Susie Wagner formerly of Cricklade, said she was in "disbelief" and it was "really sad".

"We used to meet here. We'd all say, meet at the clock, eat our chips on the green box by the clock.

"I hope they fix it because it's been fixed twice apparently but it hasn't been damaged to this extent," she added.

The BBC has contacted Wiltshire Police for more information.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.