STAFF and pupils at Ormiston Primary School returned from their Easter break to find that the school clock had been given a makeover.

Volunteers organised by Ormiston Community Council carried out work on the ageing clock, spending more than £4,000 repainting the faces, restoring the Roman numerals and installing lights so it could be lit up during the evenings.

It is the latest in a line of improvement projects taken on in the village thanks to East Lothian Council’s Civic Pride Fund.

Ormiston community councillor Roy Baines – who was a goalkeeper with Hibs, Celtic and Greenock Morton in the 1970s and a former Tranent publican – said that the work on the clock had been the first time it had been given any attention in 17 years.

He said: “We have been able to get involved in a number of projects investing in the village with the help of heritage grants and support from the Civic Pride Fund of East Lothian Council, and we still have plans for more work for the benefit of our community.

“The school clock was in serious need of work and we were delighted to be able to use money from the Civic Pride Fund to carry out the improvements in time for the school returning.”

Among other major projects carried out by the community council using the fund has been work on the Moffat Monument.

The historic monument, which was erected in 1885 in memory of missionary and local son Robert Moffat, required extensive work.

The community council also replaced the village sun dial which once stood in the main square, bringing in a stonemason to reproduce the original dial.

And it has carried out work on Ormiston War Memorial with money from the Civic Pride Fund and War Memorial grants.

A heritage site in the village has also been created, across from the school entrance, where it is planned to introduce more seating and planters, and noticeboards have been replaced with longer life boards.

Mr Baines said: “We have had a lot of support from the Civic Pride Fund and are working on more projects and looking at ways to support funding applications through grants from the Co-op and Tesco’s Bags of Help as well, in the hope of receiving more grants to invest in the village.”