Europe's oldest man is to be made an honorary freeman of the city of Brighton and Hove.

Henry Allingham, one of only two surviving veterans of the First World War, will be bestowed with the honour on April 30.

The presentation of the title follows an overwhelming response to The Argus's Honour For Henry campaign which has called for 112-year-old Mr Allingham to be handed an official honour by the government.

Scores of readers have backed the calls and now the city's politicians have shown their support by uniting behind a motion to make him a freeman.

He will become just the second man to receive the honour, which has only been in existence since Brighton and Hove became one authority in 1997, joining former Argus council correspondent Adam Trimingham.

Mr Allingham will also have his name written into the records alongside both Winston Churchill and Earl Hague, who were made freemen of the borough of Brighton for their wartime efforts.

The city's freemen do not have any unusual rights as others do elsewhere in the country.

Brighton and Hove City Council has moved to offer the honour to Mr Allingham, who lives at St Dunstan's in Ovingdean, after it was suggested by councillor Gill Mitchell, the leader of the opposition Labour group.

Coun Mitchell said: "We fully support The Argus campaign and wanted to do this in recognition of the service he has given to his country and community. He is someone who the city can be very proud to have as a resident."

A vote will be held to confirm the honour at the council meeting. The move has already received backing from all parties.

Conservative council leader Mary Mears said: "Mr Allingham has contributed so much and is a great ambassador for peace.

"In recent years he has spent a lot of time sharing his experiences with school children in the city to help them understand what happened in both world wars. We all owe him a great debt.”

The council is also expected to pass a motion to officially lobby parliament and the city's MPs to pursue a national honour for Mr Allingham.

To back The Argus's Honour for Henry campaign email the newsdesk at news@theargus.co.uk.