Captain Sir Tom Moore's daughter issues statement thanking public for 'incredible' support

The 100-year-old died in Bedford Hospital after testing positive for Covid.

Ms Ingram-Moore in a statement on Twitter said: "On behalf of my family I would like to say a big heartfelt thank you to everyone for their incredible support during our time of sadness at the loss of my father.

"Captain Sir Tom was simply father, Tom and Grandad to us. He was our world. We lived at home as an inter-generational family for over 13 years and although, like many, we weren't perfect we were perfectly happy. He was strong kind and full of humour and was the best confident you could ever wish for. He was a vibrant, caring and modest person who loved nothing more than to cook, mow the lawn, mend things and give sound advice."

Sir Captain Tom Moore captured the public's affection when he pledged to raise money for the NHS by completing laps of his garden. Incredibly, his fundraising reached £33 million raised for NHS charities.

Ms Ingram-Moore added: "There is little pain that compares to losing someone you love and each one of us is feeling our father's absence. Nothing can prepare you for that sudden wrench when their time comes to leave. Not hearing his chuckle in the house, catching the mischievous twinkle in his eye, hearing the shuffle in the corridor of his now famous walking frame.

"We are already missing his routines, like surreptitiously feeding dogs porridge out of his bowl or sitting in the kitchen every day to have lunch and asking us how our day is going. It's the little noises and habits of people close to you that suddenly become deafening in their absence.

"We would like to thank everyone who has shown such love, affection and respect for my father. It's been overwhelming and has assured us that his message of hope will live on. My father started his journey of 100 laps out of pure determination to improve his health and raise money the amazing NHS carers who had helped him during his time in need, but it became so much more than that.

"He inspired hope in so many and captured the heart of the nation, and the world during its time of need. He had a place in so many people's hearts and because of that we understand that we aren't grieving alone."