By George: Twycross Zoo baby-naming poll proves there's nothing like a 'local hero' in times of crisis

CAPTAIN TOM MOORE FINISHES SECOND IN FITTING RESULT CALLING NEW-BORN ANTELOPE AFTER HOSPITAL OPENED AT BIRTH OF THE NHS

LOCAL has trumped 'national' in a poll to name a new baby antelope at the world-famous wildlife sanctuary on the outskirts of Atherstone.

Twycross Zoo supporters were torn between giving recognition to frontline heroes at Atherstone and North Warwickshire's main hospital and honouring 99-year-old retired Captain Tom Moore who has raised a staggering £20 million for NHS Charities Together by completing 100 laps of his back garden.

The Kirk's Dik-Dik calf was born over the bank holiday weekend and the zoo owners thought it would be fitting on NHS Day to pay tribute to the "amazing" work of those battling coronavirus by choosing from a selection of three names in recognition of local hospitals.

Hosting a Facebook page poll – the options were 'George' after George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust in Nuneaton, 'Samuel' after the Samuel Johnson Community Hospital in Lichfield and 'Robert' after the Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital in Mile Oak, Tamworth.

The vote, which coincided with Thursday night's now-weekly #ClapForCarers, brought response in the hundreds – but many decided to introduce the retired Army captain into the voting mix.

Yesterday Nub News revealed it was a close run contest between the Eliot and the war veteran who turns 100 at the end of this month.

In the end Captain Moore finished second as Twycross "thanked" the supporters and announced the new name would be 'George' after the Nuneaton hospital which was opened at the birth of the National Health Service in 1948.

The hospital tweeted: "We are also very proud to be the inspiration for George's name."

The George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust has also hit the national and international headlines when a group of nurses and doctors from Nason ward sent a 'Get Well Soon' picture message to Boris Johnson while the Prime Minister was gravely ill in intensive care after failing to fight off persistent Covid-19 symptoms.

Coronavirus has left the zoo battling against the longest closure in its 57-year history.

It has launched an online appeal and so far raised £23,000 in a week – the equivalent of running the sanctuary for one day.

To help support the zoo, the upkeep of which costs hundreds of thousands of pounds a month, you can click here to donate.

The zoo has asked people to share the post and help "get to £150,000".