Have you ever wished you could turn back the hands of time? Well, York couple Joy and Charles Crawshaw really can.

The Heworth duo think they might have discovered the key to eternal youth, thanks to their bathroom clock.

The ticker works perfectly well, telling the time in the normal way - except that the second hand runs backwards.

"We're definitely feeling a bit younger since this has happened," said Joy.

"Do you know, it's marvellous to look at a clock and not see it moving on, or at least, not all of it, anyway.

"It's becoming a bit of an attraction when we have visitors."

The topsy-turvy timepiece came as part of a range of utensils which the Crawshaws bought from Argos in York nine months ago.

Everything worked fine until Charles replaced the clock's battery recently. Suddenly, the second hand began marching backwards around the clock face, and hasn't stopped since.

"We only got the clock because it was part of the set - what we really wanted, at the time, was the kettle and the toaster. But now the clock is the star," added Joy.

The couple say they're now so used to the clock's quirk that they don't want to change it back, especially as it continues to tell the correct time.

A spokeswoman for Argos said: "Time has not only stood still for this customer, but it has reversed as well.

"We have offered to replace the clock, but she is happy with it.

"It was working fine when she bought it, and it only started going backwards in time when the summer arrived - maybe it's suffering from heat stroke.

"If she does get fed up with it, then we will replace it."

Joy said: "It gives us a lovely feeling. It's called a Lifestyle clock - that seems appropriate, really.

"We're thinking of inviting people to come and have a look at it if they need to feel a bit younger."

Updated: 08:44 Thursday, July 26, 2001