A 100 year old football taken from the trenches and played with on No man's land by World War One soldiers has been showcased in Pewsey.

The historic artefact was brought to Pewsey by military expert Chris Green during the village's final university of the third age military group meeting in 2017.

The popular war time story goes that London Irish Rifles soldiers played football on no man's land while under fire during the Battle of Loos in 1915 until it’s original owner, rifleman Frank Edwards, became injured and the ball was lost in German trenches.

The brown leather ball has now been saved and returned to its former glory and turned into a popular piece of war time memorabilia.

The story is one of many which involved soldiers playing football throughout the war, including the Christmas Day Truce of 1914 where soldiers from both sides downed their weapons and played a match.

Sue Greatorex, of the Pewsey U3A, said: “We were entertained to a cracking presentation on the WW1 Battle of Loos, which was the largest British offensive mounted on the Western Front on 25 September 1915.

“There are plenty of opportunities for people of a more mature age to maintain their mental and physical fitness and enjoy a varied social life at the same time.

“Anyone who may be interested in finding out more about the Pewsey Vale U3A should look at the web site www.u3asites.org.uk.”