Big Ben fails to bong as the dials of the Great Clock stop working

Time out! Big Ben fails to bong as the dials of the Great Clock at the Houses of Parliament stop working

• The four clock dials stopped at 12.55 pm, leaving the bells silent at 1pm
• By 1.47pm, the hands were moved forward to show the right time

Big Ben’s famous bell failed to chime today when the dials of the Great Clock at the Houses of Parliament in London briefly stopped working.

The four clock dials, one on each side of the 314ft-tall Elizabeth Tower which houses Big Ben and four other bells, stopped at 12.55 pm, leaving the bells silent at 1pm.

Half an hour later, the clock hands were moved forward but the clock was still running about five minutes late.

By 1.47pm, the hands were moved forward to show the right time.

Pictured: Big Ben (File photo). The four clock dials stopped at 12.55 pm, leaving the bells silent at 1pm. By 1.47pm, the hands were moved forward to show the right time

‘Clock mechanics worked quickly to rectify the issue and the clock is now functioning as normal,’ a spokesman for the House of Commons said.

The 13-tonne Big Ben bell was silenced for five years during a restoration which was completed last November.

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