Dr Mike Pringle has written to the American President, politely asking him to replace a bronze plaque that American soldiers used as unofficial target practice in the build-up to D-Day.

Soldiers from Easy Company, which was made famous by the Band of Brothers TV series, trained at Aldbourne and saw the plaque, which commemorates both Alfred Williams and Richard Jefferies on Liddington Hill, as an easy target.

So, ever since 1944 it has featured bullet holes - and now Dr Pringle is asking for a replacement.

He was quick to point out there was no ill feeling over the plaque and said there was an opportunity for "a really positive cross-Atlantic cultural gesture".

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