A SHORTFIELD Common resident has complained of a "lamentable" barrage of gunfire from the west of Frensham on Remembrance Sunday, even while the lament of The Last Post was being sounded during the solemn ceremony at Frensham British Legion.

Chris Bonner said that in fact "all was not quiet on the Western Front" for more than two hours that morning.

"With 52 Sundays in the year, November 9 was marked on calendars as the one set aside for Remembrance Sunday - a time for quiet reflection and commemoration of all those who have been killled in conflict down the years.

"A pity then that the air to the west of Shortfield Common was filled with the almost continuous sound of gunshots between 11-15am and 1-30pm.

"Did not the organisers and participants of this activity not think it may be insensitive and inappropriate on the very morning, of the very day, set aside to mark the silence of the guns at the end of World War 1?"

The Very Rev Colin Semper, former priest of the parish, officiated at the ceremonies at Frensham and Dockenfield churches and the British Legion on Sunday morning.

He said he had been "just conscious" but not distracted by a barrage of shooting, but observed that some people could well have found it off-putting.

"I certainly don't think it is an appropriate thing to do," said Mr Semper. "One of the great things about Remembrance is that it has increased, with an increase in the size of congregations, partly because of Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I find people observe a very profound silence and that is something people actually value, certainly at Frensham and Dockenfield and the Royal British Legion.

"I would rather people had thought about that, especially as it is a big year this year, marking the end of the First World War."