Captain Sir Tom Moore has tested positive for Covid-19 and has today been admitted to hospital.

The former British Army officer and centenarian, known for his achievements raising money for the NHS in the run-up to his 100th birthday, is being treated for pneumonia, his daughter Hannah said.

In a statement posted on Captain Sir Tom Moore’s Twitter page, his daughter said: “I wanted to update everybody that today my father was admitted to hospital.

"Over the last few weeks he was being treated for pneumonia and last week tested positive for Covid-19.

“He was at home with us until today when he needed additional help with his breathing. He is being treated in a ward although he is not in ICU.

“The medical care he has received in the last few weeks has been remarkable and we know that the wonderful staff at Bedford Hospital will do all they can to make him comfortable and hopefully return home as soon as possible.

“We understand that everyone will be wishing him well. We are of course focusing on my father and will update you when we are able to.”

The message was signed off “Hannah x”.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: “The whole nation hopes you get well soon @captaintommoore. You’ve been an inspiration to us all throughout this crisis.”

Captain Moore served in India, the Burma campaign during the Second World War, and later became an instructor in armoured warfare. After the war, he worked as managing director of a concrete company and was an avid motorcycle racer.

On 6 April 2020, at the age of 99, he began to walk lengths of his garden in aid of NHS Charities Together, with the goal of raising £1,000 by his hundredth birthday.

In the 24-day course of his fundraising he made many media appearances and became a popular household name attracting over 1.5 million individual donations.

In recognition of his efforts, he received the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award.

He featured in a cover version of the song You'll Never Walk Alone sung by Michael Ball, with proceeds going to the same charity. The single topped the UK music charts and made him the oldest person to achieve a UK number one.

On the morning of his 100th birthday, the total raised by his walk passed £30 million, and by the time the campaign closed at the end of that day had increased to over £32.79 million (worth almost £39 million with expected tax rebates).

His birthday was marked by flypasts by the Royal Air Force and the British Army.

He received over 150,000 cards, and was appointed as honorary colonel of the Army Foundation College. On 17 July 2020, he was invested as a Knight Bachelor at Windsor Castle.