A year-and-a-half after it was installed in the Kingsway Centre in Newport seemed a good time to tot up and donate cash raised through a unique helter skelter style clock.

The clock in the shopping centre was erected by the four Rotary clubs of the city, Caerleon, Newport, Newport Uskmouth and St Woolos Newport.

The President of the Rotary Club of Newport, Derek Fisher, handed a cheque for £350 to St David’s Hospice Care, the amount collected through donations to the clock over the past 18 months.

Designed by Newport Rotarian Lyndon Bowkett, the collecting clock was built by pupils from Newport High School with electronics provided by Coleg Gwent students.

Derek said: “Wishing wells have been installed throughout the country by Rotary Clubs in places such as town centres, motorway service stations, shopping malls and car parks to help raise funds for charity.

“Rotarian Lyndon Bowkett, an architect came up with the ingenious design of the small clock tower with illuminated helter skelter device. We were delighted to get his exciting design brought to life by the pupils from Newport High School and Coleg Gwent. The collecting clock has proved to be a great success.”

Tania Ansell, of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “It’s a very clever and innovative way to generate funds for St David’s Hospice Care and we’re very happy to have received the £350, proceeds of the first 18 months operation of the clock, which will be used to help us continue to support the vital work that we do in our community.”

The Rotary Clock remains operational and continues to take donations in the Kingsway Centre to raise money to help fund the four Rotary Clubs of Newport’s charitable causes.