Popular street figure Horace White will be buried at an East Finchley cemetery next month.

Funeral directors have informed the Metropolitan Police about the date due to the large numbers expected to attend.

A PA system is also being organised to broadcast the service to those unable to fit inside the chapel.

The 54-year-old died after he collapsed outside the Whittington Hospital in Archway on his way to an appointment on Monday.

The popular man was extremely well known around the North Finchley area, where he would hang around outside shops and wish people the “best of luck”.

A Facebook group entitled ‘RIP Horace’ has gathered nearly 8,000 ‘Likes’ and an online petition to have a bench laid in his memory has attracted almost 4,500 web signatures.

Funeral directors AW Luck and Sons, in Church Lane, East Finchley, confirmed this morning that the enigmatic character’s funeral will take place on Tuesday, October 9.

There will be an open coffin at the Islington Cemetery, in High Road, East Finchley, for 30 minutes from 11.30am.

A one hour service will follow and mourners are asked to wear no sombre clothes.

Funeral director Les Luck, who knew Horace all his life, said: “We have been inundated with phone calls asking if the news is true and finding out funeral details.

“I was taking calls until late last night – it is quite extraordinary. He’s just a legend – everyone knew Horace. People are coming from all over the world for the funeral.”

Donations can be made to the Whittington Hospital NHS Trust, where the money will be split between the diabetic and renal units.