DARRENERS can be justly pleased and proud of their town hall clock, having recently been renovated along with the tower within which it is placed.

This modest and quaint historical edifice being on identifiable landmark of Darwen.

We are often reminded with pictures of the Blackburn Market Hall clock tower -- acclaimed far and wide with much admiration, long gone but not forgotten.

Despite the uproar and protests caused at it being demolished in 1964, the councillors of the day deemed, in their wisdom, that it would not fit in with the grandiose scheme of a modern tile-clad shopping precinct.

I have often thought how the old clock tower would have blended suitably with the modern imposition.

Civic clocks have always been provided as a common focal point of most self-respecting townships -- Preston, Great Harwood, Little Harwood etc.

Now take a look at that pathetic civic timepiece displayed in Blackburn -- resembling an item from a LegoLand kit. Supposedly it operates by modern technology.

However, the flimsy fingers on the insipid face are not easily visually defined, especially with a grey sky or when illuminated when dark. It is no better than a sundial.

Accrington has a good, sensible, easy-to-see clock face at the bus station.

J A MARSDEN, Scarborough Road, Blackburn.