Horologist David Mitchell set 16 clocks on landmark buildings to midnight on his last day of work , because he is annoyed that no-one will replace him . Time is standing still in Swansea , because the keeper of the city ’ s clocks has stopped their hands in protest at the post he has held for 30 years being axed . Official horologist David Mitchell set 16 clocks on landmark buildings to midnight on his last day of winding up their complex workings by hand . The 72-year-old , who is retiring , has given council chiefs a ticking off for failing to replace him – and says the clocks will have to be left as they are for safety reasons . Mr Mitchell , who is the only fellow of the British Horological Institute based in South Wales , said he was ‘ really wound up ’ by the decision . He added : ‘ I have been doing it since 1985 until I finished last week with no one to replace me . I stopped the clocks on safety grounds on Saturday . I didn ’ t want the weights falling over on the pulley systems . ‘ Swansea has stopped . I was emotional doing my last rounds – except that I was angry with the council. ’ Eight of the clocks are on council-owned buildings , such as the Guildhall . However , Wales ’ s second city also has a bye-law that says the council must take responsibility for maintaining eight clocks on private buildings , including St Mary ’ s Church and Morgans Hotel , which dates back more than 100 years . Council bosses are arguing that the privately-owned clocks should no longer be their responsibility , and say they intend to purchase an electric winding system to take care of the rest . But Mr Mitchell said that no action had been taken despite his best efforts to put plans in place for after his retirement . He said : ‘ I even offered to do another year until it was resolved . When I was 65 I was asked to do an extra five years because nobody else would do the job . ‘ I was happy to carry on for a while . I did another year after the extra five , and then another year . The 72-year-old , who is retiring , wanted to give council chiefs a ticking off for failing to replace him . Pictured : The clock is stopped at St Thomas Church . Mr Mitchell , who is the only fellow of the British Horological Institute based in South Wales , said he was ‘ really wound up ’ by the decision . Pictured : The clock at the city 's Guildhall ( left ) and St Mary 's ( right ) Eight of the stopped clocks are on council-owned buildings , such as the Guildhall , but the remaining eight are on private buildings , including St Paul 's All Saints Church , Mumbles ( pictured ) ‘ I offered to do another year if the council negotiated with the churches to get a grant to put electric winding in so they could be serviced by other people , as only the churches could get grants . ' I told the churches , out of politeness , and asked them to tell me when the council officially informed them . They haven ’ t informed them. ’ Mr Mitchell added : ‘ There is a an old bye-law in Swansea which gives the council responsibility for looking after public clocks . It is their responsibility. ’ Mr Mitchell ’ s rounds also include the clocks on the city ’ s old police station , the Morriston Tabernacle Chapel , St Thomas Church and St Paul ’ s Church . Yesterday , all were pointing to 12 o ’ clock , much to locals ’ surprise . Cash-strapped Swansea council believes private clocks should be cared for by their owners , including church authorities . Pictured : St Paul 's Church , Swansea . It wants to use an electric winding system to control the clocks on the private buildings but is yet to have it installed , including at the old police station ( left ) and Morriston Tabernacle ( right ) Mr Mitchell said he wanted to keep working until the row was resolved . Pictured : The clock at Morgans hotel . Office worker Deirdre Spencer , 58 , said : ‘ It is all a bit strange because I ’ ve been looking at the Guildhall clock for years . They say time stands still for no one – but it does for Swansea council now. ’ Fellow worker Donna Cadette , 60 , said : ‘ Everyone has mobiles now to check the time anyway but it is a real shame . It is a real shame . ‘ It is part of our history to see the big clocks and to hear the chimes. ’ Meanwhile , cash-strapped Swansea council has said that private clocks should be cared for by their owners , including church authorities . It added that it would resume maintenance of clocks in council buildings as soon as possible . A spokesman commented : ‘ We are hopeful we can finalise the latest contract details quite quickly so clocks in council-owned buildings can continue running . ‘ The long-term aim is to install automated winding systems into the council-owned clocks to provide a more efficient solution to reduce future costs . '
ward Mitchell puts 16 clocks on landmark buildings to midnight on last day . The 72-year - old is annoyed no one will replace him following his retirement . Swansea council are obliged to look after all public clocks , due to poor - law . But council believes private clocks should be cared for by their owners . Mr councillors said clocks should have to stay set at that time for ' safety reasons ' Affected clocks including ones at city 's Guildhall and historic clock station .