'Pressure' to get Big Ben right as clocks go back

The company responsible for accurately setting one of the world's most famous clocks has said there is always pressure to get it right.

Clocks will have to be turned back an hour when the UK changes from British Summer Time (BST) to Greenwich Meantime (GMT) in the early hours of Sunday.

The Cumbria Clock Company will once again travel to London to ensure Big Ben, the timepiece on Queen Elizabeth Tower in Westminster, keeps the right time and will also carry out essential maintenance work.

Mark Crangle, from the company, said he always felt nervous about setting it accurately as it is "the most iconic clock in the country".

The team will start working on the clock at 18:00 BST when the lights are turned off and the hands move to the 12 o'clock position.

They will then carry out out maintenance work, servicing parts of the clock which cannot be reached when it is in operation.

The clock will then be switched back on at 01:00 GMT.

Crangle said when the team turn the lights, hour strike and quarter chimes back on in the early hours "you hear a big cheer" from the nearby bridge.

"Which is quite strange to hear in the dead of the night in the middle of London," he said.

"It's quite funny."

Crangle said "of course" he gets nervous about setting the time accurately.

Once in Seaham, County Durham, he accidentally put a clock forwards instead of back, only realising his mistake when he was half an hour away.

"You only make that mistake once," Crangle said.

"If there's pressure working on one clock it's working on Big Ben.

"All eyes look towards Big Ben, it's the most iconic clock in the country."

He said there was extra pressure to get this time change right as it is so close to Remembrance Day on 11 November.

After a long night working on Big Ben, Crangle and his team will then move onto other clocks around the city, including the one at Westminster Abbey.

Crangle said: "It's a big weekend for us, it's good fun."

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