The Malta Historical Society has called on the government to give its go-ahead to the rebuilding of the historic clock tower that graced the main square of Vittoriosa before it was destroyed during the Second World War.

The society said the rebuilding would contribute to regaining a significant landmark which was part of Vittoriosa's past architectural glory.

The society is also urging the government and all the authorities concerned to ensure that all surviving artefacts from the clock tower are reused whenever possible and incorporated in the restored structure.

However, it stressed that the clock tower should be rebuilt in the exact place and in the same proportions that it had prior to the Second World War.

Any changes, even the smallest modification, to the original plan would make the rebuilding of the tower a fake exercise, the society maintained.