A TOUCHING tribute has been made to NHS staff battling coronavirus based on the words of William Wordsworth.

'Ode to the Passing of a COVID Nurse' was written by David Bowles, a retired mathematics teacher, in a moving tribute to NHS health care workers who have lost their lives.

The poem was read by stage and voice actor Gordan Griffen on YouTube and presented by Wordsworth’s descendant Christopher Wordsworth Andrew.

“The poem is a nice combination of The Solitary Reaper and the last of the Lucy Poems," said Christopher.

"It is creative and so moving. A beautiful combination.

“We have received roughly 180 poem submissions and we are aiming to get 250 to coincide with the 250th anniversary of Wordsworth's birth."

David’s son John Bowles, a doctor, was one of the first to contract COVID-19 in their home county of Devon and had to be rushed to a special respiratory unit in Stoke-on-Trent for treatment after catching it from a colleague returning from Italy.

John has made a full recovery and has returned to work along with his wife who is also an essential worker.

More than 100 doctors and nurses have died during the crisis.

To hear the poem visit the Wordsworth 250 page at youtu.be/Yx31ngs17PU.