Thousands of cards have been sent to a school in Bedfordshire to mark Captain Tom Moore's upcoming 100th birthday.

The Second World War veteran inspired people across the world by raising more than £29m for the NHS by walking laps of his garden.

More than 125,000 birthday cards - including ones from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Dame Kelly Holmes and England football captain Harry Kane - have been sent to the school which Captain Tom's grandson attends.

Image: Captain Tom is set to mark his 100th birthday

Image: Thousands of cards are being sorted at Bedford School's Great Hall

Benjie Ingram-Moore enlisted the help of his school as cards began flooding in to mark his grandfather's birthday on Thursday.

The 16-year-old said: "The volume of cards that have been sent to granddad is just astonishing. So many of the cards are truly heartfelt with thousands from young children who have taken the time to use their artistic talent and write a personal message.


"Another £60,000 has been generously been donated via his birthday cards.

"It means a lot to granddad as well as us as a family. We are hugely proud of how the nation has taken granddad to its heart. Words can't express how much I idolise him."

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Captain Tom had originally planned to celebrate his centenary with a family party, but the coronavirus pandemic scuppered his plans.

However, Benjie said the swathes of cards had left his grandfather "speechless" and "more than made up for his cancelled birthday plans".

Image: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Dame Kelly Holmes sent messages of support

Image: The school has been inundated with cards

More than 1,750 hours were spent opening each card and creating a display in Bedford School's Great Hall by a total of 140 members of school staff, parents and pupils past and present.

Hugh Maltby, director of Bedford School Association, said: "Benjie has been such an inspiration in his grandfather's campaign that we wanted to offer a way of giving back.

"When the family told us about all the cards being received at their local post office, I didn't hesitate to offer school's support to help open and display the cards."

Image: Another £60,000 has been donated within the cards

In a separate tribute to Captain Tom, all mail sent from Monday will be stamped with a special postmark reading: "Happy 100th Birthday Captain Thomas Moore, NHS fundraising hero, 30th April 2020."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also praised the war hero's efforts, saying: "If we, as a country, can show the same spirit of optimism and energy shown by Captain Tom Moore, who turns 100 this week, if we can show the same spirit of unity and determination as we have all shown in the past six weeks, then I have absolutely no doubt that we will beat it together."