A NEW gatekeeper is being sought for the cemetery at Stratton St Margaret in Swindon.

Eric Smith, who has spent 20 years opening and closing the gates at the beginning and end of the day, is giving up the job through ill health.

The pensioner had himself retired from his full-time job when he took on the role for the parish council.

Mr Smith, a former parish councillor, lives in Kenwin Close.

Parish clerk Bob Blake said: "We gave Eric a little money for the job, just around £100 a year, to show how much we appreciated what he did.

"But mostly he did it for pure love of the parish which he had served as a councillor for so long.

"The job is not particularly interesting or glamorous, but it does provide an essential service to the parish and we are very grateful for the years Eric put in, and very sad that ill health has forced him to retire."

The gates of the 1930s cemetery must be locked each night to keep cars out, and are usually closed at dusk and re-opened at 8am.

Anyone interested in the job should call the parish council on 01793 823761.