AN ONLINE petition has been created asking for a statue in memory of the Bradford Jesus Man, Geoffrey Brindley.

The call for the memorial is on Bradford Council's epetition website and it will accept signatures until October 26.

The petition was set up by 19-year-old Sherralee Doherty, of Denholme, who earlier this week created a Facebook page entitled 'Statue for Bradford Jesus Man'.

On the Council page, Miss Doherty said: "He was loved by all in Yorkshire. We are all sad that he has passed away. He always had a smile on his face.

"We all want a statue in his memory. He was a living legend."

Miss Doherty's Facebook page had 8,783 'likes' yesterday, while another page, entitled 'Build a Statue for Bradford Jesus Man', started by Richard Fox, of Idle, had 5,724 'likes'.

A Council spokesman said: "The Council recognises that many people have memories of Geoffrey Brindley over many years and they will really miss seeing and meeting him around Bradford. Rather than being driven by the Council, paying tribute to him is an issue for communities to initiate and take forward.

"He obviously wasn't a man interested in pomp and ceremony and local people have suggested a number of ideas for a fitting testimony. We will look to support these where we can."

Former Bradford councillor Ken Baxter, who represented Idle, has called for the authority to lower its flag at City Hall to half-mast in tribute to Mr Brindley.

Mr Baxter, now 95, said: "Everyone knows what a wonderful chap Geoffrey was. He is part of Bradford, as much as Priestley and Morrisons and everyone else.

"I think it should be done. It is scandalous that they won't."

A Council spokesman said: "There are protocols, some based on national requirements, in place for flying the flag at half mast on City Hall and Centenary Square and we have to be consistent with these."

Meanwhile, more than £1,000 has been raised on three fundraising websites towards the cost of Mr Brindley's funeral and a statue.

The pages were set up individually by Janette Barraclough, Roger Mitchell and Vicky Davis and by yesterday lunchtime had raised £1,047. People can donate by visiting https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/janette-barraclough, https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/roger-mitchell-1 or https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/vicky-davis.

People around Bradford have been sharing their memories of Mr Brindley. Keith Palmer, 74, said Mr Brindley used to visit Kensington Hall Club in Girlington, before it closed down last Christmas.

"He used to come in most Saturdays," said Mr Palmer, who shared a picture of Mr Brindley with a group who used to go to the club. "We would buy him a drink and a bag of crisps. He would drink lager shandy.

"He was brilliant and he used to have a chat."