A QUIRKY clock which entertained visitors to the spectacular Lumiere festival is to make a permanent return.

Helvetictoc was a feature of the Durham City light festival in 2011 and 2013, projecting the time onto landmark buildings in spoken English in phrases such as ‘It’s nearly five to eleven’.

Durham County Council, which commissioned Lumiere, announced it had bought the Tobie Langel artwork with the help of £10,000 from developers The Banks Group last November.

Today (Monday, February 17), it announced Helvetictoc will be installed in Durham’s Millennium Place, with the time projected onto Clayport Library.

The piece will be unveiled at a ceremony on Wednesday, February 26.

Council leader Simon Henig said: “Helvetictoc has amused the crowds as part of the world-class Lumiere light festival twice now and I am delighted it will become a timely reminder of the importance of art and culture in County Durham.

“It is charming in its simplicity, practical in its message and a really fitting permanent addition to Millennium Place.”