Almost 5,000 people have backed a regional daily’s bid to name a street after a war veteran and “fundraising hero”.

The Edinburgh Evening News is campaigning for the honoured to be given in memory of Tom Gilzean, who died earlier this month aged 99.

Mr Gilzean, who served in the Second World War, had been volunteering for charity since the 1920s and in June this year received an MBE for his services to charity after raising more than £1 million for good causes.

His funeral featured on the front page of the EEN last Wednesday, pictured, and more than 4,500 have now signed the newspaper’s petition calling for him to be honoured.

In a message to readers, editor Euan McGrory said: “Tom Gilzean was a huge part of this city during his lifetime and it seems fitting that he should continue to do so for generations to come.

“Other than donating to the charities for which he worked tirelessly to support, I can think of few other more appropriate ways to celebrate his memory.

“If you support the idea of creating a Tom Gilzean street somewhere prominent in Edinburgh then please sign our petition to show that the idea has widespread public backing.”