A SPATE of vandalism in Bishop's Waltham culminated with damage to the village's £13,000 jubilee showpiece clock.

Villagers, businesses and the parish council all contributed towards the four-faced custom-made clock in St George's Square.

Now all eight of its hands have been bent.

The attack follows a series of incidents of vandalism.

Parish council chairman, Gideon Lake, said: "It's so disappointing. This is a piece of mindless vandalism and it's upset a lot of people.

"This is something the community dug into their own pockets to provide and they were rightfully very proud of it.

"It must have been a very determined attack and we are disgusted.

"It will have to be completely refurbished and that will add to the cost of the rates."

Bill Walmsley, who led the original project, explained that the locally built timepiece was in the style of Padbury clocks, which were handmade in Bishop's Waltham for more than 300 years.

He said: "It's a great pity. It really has been a very nice clock.

"I don't know what they think they have gained."

The clock was erected in during the Queen's golden jubilee year, in 2002, and unveiled by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire Mary Fagan following a subscription appeal to residents and shopkeepers to help fund a millennium project for the village.

First theories are that a ladder or a van were used to climb up the faces, which are 15 feet above the ground. Anti-vandal paint on the pole supporting the clock is unmarked.

A police spokesman said: "It was paid for by the local community and this mindless damage has insulted and upset them.

"We believe the damage was done overnight and it would not have been quick to do, so we expect someone saw something going on around it even without realising what was happening."

Only last week a popular walkway across the river in the village was closed at night after all the lights over the bridge were kicked out.