Cricklade’s ‘iconic’ Jubilee clock knocked down by lorry

“I know the word iconic is sort of used very loosely these days, but it’s certainly true of the clock in Cricklade,” Clarke said.

“Thousands of people see it every day as they walk and drive through. So, it is a shock to see it lying on the ground.

“It’s very badly damaged…it’s cast iron, so it’s shattered in various places – it’s a hell of a mess.”

Resident Kerry Whitehead, who has lived in Cricklade for 12 years, said the crash sounded like “massive crates falling off the back of a lorry”.

“It has always been there, it’s like part of the furniture and it’s definitely a focal point especially with Christmas coming up – they decorate it.

“We’re not going to have it decorated this year by the looks of it.”

Whitehead also said the town could not sustain the amount of traffic and “lorry after lorry” driving through it.

Swindon resident Susie Wagner formerly of Cricklade, said she was in “disbelief” and it was “really sad”.

“We used to meet here. We’d all say, meet at the clock, eat our chips on the green box by the clock.

“I hope they fix it because it’s been fixed twice apparently but it hasn’t been damaged to this extent,” she added.

The BBC has contacted Wiltshire Police for more information.