A Burnham landmark is set to undergo thousands of pounds of mayor refurbishment work before spring.

The town’s red brick octagonal clock tower was built in 1877 and dedicated to Laban Sweeting, a well-known oyster merchant who was renowned for his philanthropy among residents.

It was last refurbished by Maldon District Council in 2007 when it was looked after by the district council before Burnham Town Council bought it back for £1 in 2008.

Six years on and the tower is now in need of an external facelift costing £12,620.

Town clerk David McNeill said: “The builders are going to repair the bricks that are cornered and make sure it is all structurally sound.

“The clock tower has a lot of these bricks that are soft and rubbing away.

“Some of the wooden supports need repairing or replacing on the copula.

“You can put your finger through some of them.

“Some of the little panels of the lead light windows and also the guttering need replacing."