The band of ringers at Holy Cross Church, Sherston will be unable to ring the church bells to mark the anniversary of a soldier's death in World War 1 because of the coronavirus restrictions.

To mark the 100th anniversaries of soldiers from Sherston who died in WWI the Sherston Ringers have rung 36 times, half muffled at noon.

However, due to the rules surrounding social distancing, they are not allowed into the church tower.

"Most people thought we were finished in November 2018 but one soldier Lance Corporal 'Chap' Gunning didn't die of his injuries until June 10, 1920 and is buried in Sherston graveyard," said Chris Pickthall of the Sherston Band of Ringers.

"We're not going to ring at the moment, I'm just hoping that the regulations will change.

"We're never going to ring all the bells because the ringers would be too close together, but I would want to do something."

Mr Pickthall said he is planning to post an audio recording of the bells on 'Sherston What's On' Facebook page with a poster to commemorate L Cpl Gunning but still hopes that the regulations will change to allow them to ring the bells.

"We did this all those times and now at the very last one for a poor chap who suffered for a couple of years, we can't do it," Mr Pickthall continued.

"My ringers would be there in a shot if we were allowed to."