WESTON-SUPER-MARE'S beloved floral clock will be restored after being concreted over to the dismay of locals.

Volunteers from the Lions Club, who have maintained the clock for the past 10 years, recently concreted over the flower beds after struggling to get support to water the flowers, with the plan to paint a mural over it.

North Somerset Council, which owns the clock but did not know about the move in advance, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Wednesday (February 7) that there were no plans to revert it, amid budget pressures.

But now the council has said the concrete will be stripped off and flower beds restored.

The council’s executive member for culture and leisure Mike Solomon said: “Following an urgent meeting with the Lions Club of Weston-super-Mare, who maintain the site, we’ve agreed that North Somerset Council will remove the concrete and restore flower beds.

“We hope to work with volunteers on this project to make the site the best it can be.”

He added: “We will continue to work closely alongside the Lions Club to finalise plans for the future of the floral clock.

“We want to again thank them for volunteering their time and effort for many years to maintain this space.

“In this current financial climate, when we’re all feeling the squeeze, it would be impossible for us to look after the clock without the hard work of volunteers and the goodwill of the community.”

Explaining the concrete to the BBC on Tuesday (February 6), Weston Lions president Chick Parkin said: “Over the last three years we found it harder and harder to look after the clock.

“We put out a plea last year for people to come out and help us water it, but only two people reacted to our cry for help.”

Anyone interested in volunteering with the Weston Lions Club and helping to maintain the flower clock can contact them at www.wsmlions.co.uk or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lionsclubwsm

People are being urged to sponsor the floral clock. If you are interested, contact North Somerset Council’s communications team via communications@n-somerset.gov.uk.