FORMER league champions Cheltenham Civil Service have quit the Gloucestershire County League.

However, the league standings themselves are unaffected for Thornbury Town, Frampton United and Kingswood after Cheltenham's results were wiped away and the table adjusted.

Cheltenham swept all before them in their title-winning first season in the competition but struggled down the other end of the table last season and were in ninth spot over the Bank Holiday weekend before the announcement that they were leaving the competition on Wednesday afternoon.

Secretary Ron Holpin, in a statement from the league, said: “It is with sadness that I have to report that Cheltenham Civil Service Football Club have withdrawn from the Marcliff Gloucestershire County Football League from immediate effect.

“The club only entered the league in the 2014-15 season and had an immediate impact winning the title at the first attempt. There playing record will be expunged.

“This leaves the league operating with 17 clubs for the remainder of the season.”

Their final game, a home clash with Hardwicke, was postponed on Bank Holiday Monday.

Ironically, Frampton United were due to be Cheltenham Civil Service’s next opponents on Saturday but, with that game now not taking place and Frampton not playing on Bank Holiday Monday, it will mean they United will not be in action again until Saturday January 14 when they are away to Hardwicke.

Thornbury are away at Southmead CS Athletic on Saturday, with Kingswood visiting Henbury.