THE parish of St John's and St Mary's in Devizes is facing a bill of up to £8,000 after a routine inspection found the clock faces in the tower of St Mary's Church unsafe.

The news came after experts examined the tower and found the glass segments of the four dials were liable to fall down.

The clock faces were removed and the tower has been left with four gaping holes.

Canon John Record, rector of St John's and St Mary's, said: "Once we were told the faces were unsafe, we had them removed as quickly as possible. We have been told the bill will be in the region of £7,000 to £8,000 which is money the parish is going to have to find."

He ruled out any fundraising for the money because of the urgency of the work, but said any donations would be gratefully received.

It could take over two months to carry out the work as the parish will have to get permission from the diocese to spend the money.The new faces will then have to be ordered.

Mr Record said: "I am just pleased that the situation was discovered before anyone was hurt."