A PERMANENT memorial to Oxford's 'favourite adopted son' may be considered as more tributes are paid to Sir Roger Bannister.

Sir Roger's remarkable achievements have already seen Iffley Road running track, a road - Bannister Close - and a cafe named after him.

But plans to publicly pay tribute to the pioneering athlete and neurologist are set to gather pace in the coming days following his death on Saturday at the age of 88.

Oxford University's director of sport, Jon Roycroft, said he will be sitting down with members of Oxford University Athletics Club to discuss a tribute.

Oxford City Council could also approve plans for a memorial or statue.

Lord Mayor of Oxford, Jean Fooks, said a permanent memorial, possibly taking the form of a statue, should be considered.

She said: "We need to do something to recognise him - if nothing else he was a fantastic person, and then of course there are his sporting achievements and his career in medicine.

"I met him several times and he was very nice.

"He was very much a favourite adopted son of the city."

The long-standing city councillor also said her father was the headmaster at City of Bath Boys' School shortly after Sir Roger left and the pair corresponded several times.

Aside from his knighthood in 1975, and being made a Companion of Honour in the 2017 New Year's Honours, he was also awarded an honorary doctorate by Oxford Brookes University in 2014.

The University paid tribute yesterday and said Sir Roger was an 'inspiration' for students and staff.

The Vice-Chancellor, professor Alistair Fitt, said: "Although he was known all over the world for his sporting prowess, he also had a long and successful career in medicine.

"Oxford Brookes is proud to have awarded Roger an honorary doctorate in recognition of his achievements.

"He was a true inspiration to our students and staff."

Oxford University also paid tribute to the former Pembroke College Master.

Chancellor, Lord Patten of Barnes, said: "We offer our condolences to his family.

"He was not just one of the great athletes of the last century but a superb doctor and servant of Oxford University.

"He was a man of great distinction and honour in every sense.

"At the age of 88 he was still an active supporter of the University and we will miss him enormously."

Former British middle distance runners Steve Cram and Seb Coe - who both broke the four-minute barrier in the 1980s spoke of his legacy on BBC at the World Indoor Athletics Championships on Sunday.

Mr Coe, who won two Olympics gold medals, said: "When you look at the time, and people sort of dismiss the four-minute barrier, but more people have individually climbed Mount Everest than run a four-minute mile.

"It is an extraordinary achievement.

Former world champion Steve Cram said: "The first person that you were taught to look up to was Roger Bannister.

"Then after that you're looking at times, when I was 15 I was thinking 'I wonder if I could run a four-minute mile one day.'

"And that is still true today."