THE newest vehicle at a Kidderminster traffic management firm has been named after national hero Colonel Tom Moore.

Signal Traffic Management has paid tribute to the veteran - whose incredible fund raising efforts during the coronavirus pandemic have made him a national treasure - by naming one of its three new IPVs in his honour.

The company, which manages road closures and is based at Hoobrook Industrial Estate, held a competition to name the lorry and raise money for the NHS.

Business development manager Luke Swatman said: "Signal are always doing our own charity fundraising but wanted to get behind the NHS at this time.

"We launched a campaign for NHS Charities Together and have raised £1,000 to name the IPV.

"Loads of people got involved and we announced the winner today - it just happened be on Captain Tom's birthday.

"Matt Eaton, who is the managing director here, himself served in British Army and the Welsh National Guard so it ties in nicely.

"We were inspired by Captain Tom's fundraising for the NHS - the whole nation has got behind him."

The name Captain Tom has been printed in bright pink letters on the front of the IPV, which took to the roads on Thursday (April 30).

Signal has doubled the £500 raised in donations, with all the money going to support workers on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis.

Further donations can be made at justgiving.com/fundraising/signal-traffic-management-ltd.

Colonel Tom, previously Captain Tom, who was born in Keighley and now lives in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, hoped to raise a few thousand pounds for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday.

His efforts proved an inspiration to people coming to terms with the coronavirus pandemic and donations poured in from all over the world.

With the total standing at almost £30m last night, the former Army officer, who served in Burma during the Second World War, holds the record for the largest sum ever raised in by an individual charity walk.