Around the globe, billions of people were celebrating the start of a new decade - but in Ipswich there was drama as the town's famous clock tower suffered a malfunction.

IPSWICH: Around the globe, billions of people were celebrating the start of a new decade - but in Ipswich there was drama as the town's famous clock tower suffered a malfunction.

The antique town hall clock stalled early in the afternoon on New Year's Eve and only the quick thinking of technician Stephen Mann saved the day - or night.

Unbeknownst to hundreds of revellers on the Cornhill waiting for the hands to pass 12 midnight, Mr Mann was inside the clock tower and manually operating the pendulum, setting off the chimes by hand and using the speaking clock as a time guide.

He said: “The pendulum had stopped working and we made the decision to do it by hand. I rang up the speaking clock and had it on speakerphone.

“You have to be very careful because it's very old and fragile. It was an unusual way to spend new Year's Eve - I won't forget this one.”

For the full story see tonight's Evening Star.