THE Civil War battle of Coleford, celebrated for the past four years by members of the Sealed Knot re-enactment group, is to become an annual event.

Following Saturday's town centre muster of Sealed Knot members and the Act of Remembrance for those who lost their lives in the battle 370 years ago, Coleford mayor Sue Merrikin has been told the event will now be held every year.

"It has become very popular with members of the Sealed Knot. Some of those who came to Coleford on Saturday travelled from as far afield at Nottingham and Torquay," she said.

Mrs Merrikin said the event continued to grow in popularity and now attracted re-enactors from all parts of Britain. The Sealed Knot had provided a plaque to commemorate the battle which had come to be regarded as a very important strategic engagement.

It was fought on February 20, 1643 when around 2,000 Royalist troops on their way to Gloucester were confronted by a small contingent of armed militia and townsfolk. The Royalist commander, Sir Richard Lawley, was killed after which the local troops vanished into the Forest.