A Hitchin school is leaping with joy at the prospect of having their iconic clock tower restored – following a hugely successful fundraising campaign in the town which saw nearly £8,000 raised for the essential work.

The Comet: Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy clocks.Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy clocks. (Image: Archant)

Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy on Fishponds Road launched an appeal for funds last April to help restore their 80-year-old clock tower including selling more than 2,000 ‘I Love Hitchin’ bags produced by the driving force behind the project Faye Silver.

Mum of two Faye, part of the school’s PTA, Parents of Wilshere-Dacre, known as POWA, said of the work that has seen the old clock faces removed which has left the tower without its three clocks until the project is completed in July: “A big thank you to everyone in our community who bought a bag or helped in any way.”

Wilshere-Dacre head Sarah Smith added: “We can’t thank the Hitchin community enough for all their support, including everyone who bought an I Love Hitchin bag. Thanks also to Faye Silver and the team POWA who worked so hard.”