Church leaders are baffled by the mystery of the Grimsby Minster clock which has started working again all by itself.
Wardens hailed the restoration of the clock in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, which is back in action with all four of its faces telling the correct time.
While its chimes remain silent which is a 'Godsend' to visitors at St James' Hotel who are not woken up by the hourly bongs, reports Manchester Evening News.
Churchwarden Chris Daniel said "it is a miracle" when the clock apparently fixed itself, after quotes to repair it reached up to £50,000.
He added: "I do not know why or how the clock has started working again. It is either divine intervention or there is a much more mundane reason that none of us are aware of.
"We just cannot explain it. Not only is the mechanism working again, but the clock tells the correct time on all the faces."
Councillors had been 'ticked off' by the faulty clock which was stuck at just after twelve o'clock for more than a year.
Cllr Tim Mickleburgh, of North East Lincolnshire Council, had called for urgent repairs to stop people visiting the town and leaving with a negative view.
Meanwhile church leaders came under criticism over the broken clock which was recently run for a few minutes as part of an investigation to cost the repairs.
Cllr Mickleburgh had described it as "a bad example" while speaking at a tourism and visitor economy scrutiny panel meeting.
He said: "A lot of money has been spent around St James' Square but the clock still isn't working.
"When people come from all over, such as when they did for the memorial service for Austin Mitchell, it doesn't look good if the clock isn't working."
Former director of music Steven Maxson featured on Jeremy Vine Radio Two programme to explain the costs of repair which he estimated at £50,000.
He said a major fundraising effort would need to be undertaken in order to meet the cost of repairs which would likely involve scaffolding to gain access to the clock.
But Mr Daniel told Grimsby Live there were a number of quotes obtained by the church to get repairs, ranging from £25,000 to £50,000.
One of them had been submitted by the firm which has carried out the restoration work at Big Ben at the Houses of Parliament.
He said a Suffolk-based horologist made contact with Minster officials and said he would investigate the fault and submit a quote.
But he told the warden that would not be until later in the year.
The mystery deepened when it was explained that there is only one key for the clock tower which is kept at the Minster office. It has not been given to anyone in the past few weeks.
Any attempt at repairs would mean taking specialist equipment up the tower and permission would be needed.
Staff at the Minster cafe said they were unaware of any repairs having been carried out and hoped more visitors would attend to discuss the issue over refreshments between Tuesday and Saturday.
The church warden said further investigations will be undertaken.
