CHURCH bells will ring out across north and west Wiltshire later today to mark the funeral of Captain Sir Tom Moore.

Many bellringers are planning to toll a single bell 100 times to commemorate his age and the number of laps Sir Tom did in in his garden to raise more than £32 million for the NHS charities.

The event is being organised by the Central Council of Church Bellringers whose president Simon Linford said: “The exact time of the funeral has not been released so as to reduce the risk of wellwishers gathering.

“For those wanting to give a consistent voice from bell towers we suggest 12 noon as a time to ring.”

Local churches understood to be taking part include St Mary’s Church in Calne, St James’ Church in Trowbridge, St James the Great Church in Bratton and the Priory Church in Edington.

Sir Tom set out to raise money for the NHS with an aim to walk 100 laps of his garden in Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire before his 100th birthday on April 30 during the first lockdown in 2020.

His efforts captured the imagination of the general public and, as the money poured in the total raised rose dramatically, with the world war two veteran raising more than £32.7 million.

He was knighted by the Queen and was the oldest person to have a UK number one hit with his version of You’ll Never Walk Alone with Michael Ball and the NHS Voices of Care Choir.

Sir Tom died on February 2 after contracting the Covid-19 coronavirus after returning from a family holiday to Barbados in the West Indies.