Ashby de la Zouch Town Council says that a move to re-start the St Helen's Church clock - after being 'frozen' for four years - should be financed with a grant.

The Council says this funding should be applied for by the Parochial Church Council - and that the Town Council should be approached as a last resort.

Ashby Town Council's annual report, published last week, says that the Finance & Administration Committee was approached by the Church Wardens and the PCC of St.Helen's Church to invite the Town Council to finance the repair of the church clock.

The report says: "The clock had to be stopped because of safety concerns over the winding mechanism.

"The financial support of parish and town councils to the upkeep of the fabric of the building of a church is a controversial area.

"As a result, the Committee received legal advice from the Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils (LRALC) and the National Association of Local Councils (NALC).

"To summarise. There are two conflicting opinions on this issue.

"The Church of England says a local council can provide funding for the upkeep of the church clock; NALC on the other hand draws attention to the wider issue of providing financial assistance to the church, with the summary that a council should consider whether such a course of action is valid.

"In the event, the Committee has invited the PCC to revert to the Town Council after it has applied for any suitable grants.

"If the PCC is unsuccessful, or if the grants on offer do not add up to the sum required to repair the clock, then that would be the moment to approach the Town Council to seek financial support.

"This could be, for example, for match funding or as a top up grant to meet the full amount of the repair.

"The Town Council would prefer to be seen as the point of last resort for funding, rather than the first."