STROUD band The Vast have written and released a new single in memory of a close friend who lost his battle with cancer earlier this year.

Ian Mansell, who lived in Rodborough, died in April aged 33, just five months after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Band mates James Horwood and Jamie Giacomelli made close friends with Ian while the three of them worked together at Ecotricity in Stroud.

The single – entitled ‘Ian’ – was released last month on the group’s second anniversary and is available to download from iTunes and purchase from Amazon.

All profit from sales of the track will be donated to Checkers Acrobatic Gymnastics Club in Gloucester, where Ian was an enthusiastic regular and volunteer since he was a child.

Two years ago he tried out for hit TV show Britain’s Got Talent with a group of gymnasts from the club and made it through a couple of auditions before narrowly missing out on a chance to perform before the judges.

"He really loved being at the club – that was where he spent most of his spare time since he was a child, " said James, 22, who plays drums in the band.

"He was always down there working with the young gymnasts and he helped out in a big way with a recent refurbishment.

"From the moment he was diagnosed he was off work pretty much instantly, so Jamie and I never really had a chance to say goodbye.

"The four of us worked so hard on the song and we are really happy with it. I am sure Ian would have loved it.

"He was a man with a fantastic sense of humour who touched many lives."

Ian’s partner Ryan David added: "He never let anything get him down, even when he was very ill towards the end.

"He was dedicated to the world of gymnastics where he was very well known, much loved and now sadly missed."

Links to online stores where the track can be purchased are listed on The Vast’s website at www.thevast.co.uk