A community group hopes to have a broken floral clock fixed to commemorate the King’s coronation.

Palmeira and Adelaide Garden Fund want to restore the 70-year-old floral clock in Palmeira Square, Hove.

Directors of the group Judith Taylor and Stuart Grainger said it “adds to the value of the square”.

The group met with a worker from Smith of Derby, which fitted the block originally back in 1953. It was installed to mark the Queen's coronation.

The cost of fixing the clock with metal digits and hands is expected to cost thousands.

Stuart, a Brighton resident for more than 35 years, said: “It is one of the few monuments about the Queen that we actually have in Brighton.

“Instead of having the separate numbers, we would want it to be all connected to make it stand out more and be less susceptible to vandalism.

The Argus: How the clock looked in 2005How the clock looked in 2005 (Image: Simon Carey)

“You get drunks coming out the pub who stand on the hands which messes with the mechanism. We want to have metal hands on the clock.”

The clock has faced repeated vandalism over the years.

The group also wants to have a plaque to commemorate King Charles III.

Judith, who has lived in the city for 25 years, said: “We want to get the mechanism working as a minimum. Smith of Derby put the floral clock in originally.

“The council has budget restrictions. I don’t think we would be priority for any council funding as we’re not a listed garden.”

The Argus: The floral clock does not work currentlyThe floral clock does not work currently (Image: The Argus)

On May 7, Coronation weekend, they will be doing a picnic in the park event with a fair.

It will also have a music programme running from noon to around 5pm.

The group does not expect the clock to be working by May but will start working on its restoration once the money is raised.

The group started maintaining the 19th century garden by pulling up weeds and planting more than 5,000 spring bulbs and wild flowers.

The Argus: The group wants the plastic hands and digits to be replaced with metal onesThe group wants the plastic hands and digits to be replaced with metal ones (Image: The Argus)

Members are looking to run several events in the gardens over the coming months to raise money for group projects.

Judith said they are looking for another sponsor of the floral clock.

The clock is already sponsored by Priors Estate Agents but has an extra space for sponsorship.

For more information, visit the group's website.