Epsom’s iconic clock tower in the marketplace has wilted in the heat and won't be fixed for weeks.
Last week it lost all grip on time but, following repair works, it was showing the right time again on Friday.
But it was 30 minutes fast again this morning and the council has confirmed that repairs will not be done for at least three weeks.
At 11.30am last Wednesday morning the clock showed 6.30 and at 3.30pm that day it was telling passers-by the time was 9.30.
Sunali Patel, who runs Peachey’s News on Epsom High Street, said some of her customers were "very confused" by it.
Mrs Patel said: "The early morning people who are going to work came in saying, ‘Am I late here, or what?’ "It’s confusing.
"Last week people were complaining. One guy came in saying, ‘Is it the right time?’ I said I don’t know what’s happened."
An Epsom council spokesman said last week: "Following an investigation it has been determined that it is a mechanical problem. Although the clock is working correctly, the hands are not.
"The clock runs on the original 19th century mechanism and an engineer who specialises in repairing such equipment will be assessing the problem."
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