Four of the five actors who have played James Bond are set to miss a memorial service for Sussex actor Desmond Llewelyn.

Mr Llewelyn, who played the gadget-master Q, was killed in a crash in Firle, near Lewes, two months ago. Stars from behind and in front of the cameras will gather at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, London, in memory of the 85-year-old actor.

But, while Bond number three Roger Moore hopes to attend, the four other 007s - Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan - have indicated they can't.

Friends and former colleagues of Mr Llewelyn, who played Q in all but two of the Bond films, flocked to pay tributes after he died in a head-on collision on December 19. He was on his way to meet his biographer, Sandy Hernu, and sign copies of the book at Drusillas Zoo Park, Alfriston.

His funeral took place two weeks later at St Mary's Church, Battle, where he had often travelled from his home in Bexhill for Sunday services. At the time, his son, Ivor, 50, who lived opposite his father, and Bond production company Eon, promised a larger-scale memorial service in the New Year.

A spokeswoman for Eon said today: "Things are at a very early stage, but unfortunately our indications are that most of the Bonds themselves will be unable to attend because of other commitments."

The service will take place at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, London, at 2pm on Monday March 27.

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