AN APPEAL for help rescuing a piece of Port Seton history has been made, after it was revealed that restoring a well-known landmark to its former glory would cost more than £100,000.

Cockenzie and Port Seton Community Council had been looking into ways of reinstating Dr Black’s Clock, which sat atop the old Pond Hall before it was demolished.

The huge clock has been lying in the Hart Builders premises, in Macmerry, for years, but the firm asked the community council to take ownership of it.

They began investigating ways in which it could be reintroduced into the community. However, they have now confirmed the cost of restoring it is too expensive for them.

At a meeting of the community council last week, it was revealed that an estimate for the work needed to return it to its former glory had come in at £95,346, without including the cost of hiring a crane to move it to a new site or scaffolding.

Sheila Chambers, community council chairwoman, said it was an expense too far for them.

She said: “The community council certainly does not have that kind of money, if it did it would be used for a lot of other things.

“If people want to fundraise or we can find a generous benefactor willing to step in, then they are welcome to take on the clock.”

The community council agreed to look into having the clock stored at Prestongrange Museum until a solution could be found and appealed to anyone willing to help to get in touch.