Pigeons who built their nest in a bell tower have frozen time at Worthing town hall.

Damage caused by the birds has put the town hall clock out of action.

Now the 69-year-old mechanical clock requires a major overhaul costing £3,500 to £5,000.

The clock suffered water damage after a pigeons' nest and bird droppings blocked a drainage outlet in the roof.

But borough council technical services manager Cliff Harrison said this was not because of a surge in the number of pigeons.

He said: "We think this is probably a one-off. The roof outlet was blocked by one pigeon nest beneath the bell of the tower.

"We can't imagine this will happen again because it is not a particularly attractive place to nest. We can't stop pigeons getting into the bell tower. But we will be looking at ways of stopping them nesting on the outlet."

Frost Brothers of Worthing will start repair work on the clock in Chapel Road on Wednesday.