A man has launched a petition calling on the government to move the extra day in a leap year to June.

Chris Snowdon, 47, is calling for the “leap day” that comes around every four years to be moved from February 29 to June 31.

The wellbeing campaigner, from Shoreham, has launched the petition to add an extra day to summer, calling the current date “arbitrary”.

He said: “When we get to February 29, people say ‘oh great, another day in February'. It's like you have to wait an extra day until March which is when you expect the weather to pick up.

"I realise changing the days won't change the weather, but it's a mental thing. I think it would improve public wellbeing in the Northern Hemisphere.

"I thought I'd start with the British government if they can get the ball rolling. But ideally we'd need every government in the world to agree.

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"I'm not confident we'll see reform by February 28 this year, but who knows how public opinion might have changed by 2028?

"An extra day of summer, one less day of winter - what's not to like if you like summer? People will look back on this one day and think 'why didn't anyone think of this sooner?'."

Chris said the date is "just something we all agree as a society" and said the date should be moved to June 31.

He launched a Change.org petition on January 28 which garnered over 100 signatures in a day.

He said when he explained the idea to a friend, they agreed it was a "no brainer".

The petition says: "Every four years we all get an extra day of life thanks to the system of leap years. But why have an extra day in February (cold, dark) when you could have an extra day in June (lovely summer)?"

Chris also called on the United Nations to “get its ducks in a row” and move the date if the government agreed to the petition.

The government was approached for comment.