The family and friends of a well-known Bradford GP who died of cancer have petitioned Bradford Council calling for a road to be renamed after her.

Kind-hearted doctor Urmila Gupta spent 43 years in medicine and ran her Manningham practice, in Green Lane, for 36 years after coming to Bradford in 1968.

Dr Gupta devoted her life to caring for her patients until she died of lung cancer, aged 71, in February, less than a year after retiring.

She never married or had children and dedicated her life to looking after her patients at Green Lane Surgery, who along with her loyal staff, became like family.

She was especially well-known for treating her hundreds of elderly patients to seaside excursions, which she paid for and organised herself.

This legacy is now being carried on by her brother, Jitendra Gupta, of Hollybank Road, Great Horton, who is also the man behind the latest bid to make sure his sister's name is not forgotten.

He has organised a petition calling for Bradford Council to re-name Green Lane as Dr Gupta Lane.

The 200-name petition has now been handed to highways officials at the Council, which is considering the request.

Mr Gupta, 59, said: "A lot of her former patients approached me to sign the petition. I believe she should receive some sort of public recognition for her services to the community.

"We collected almost 200 names - former patients and people from the local community who also believe she should receive recognition.

"She worked for 35 years for patients and the community and organised the trips for elderly people, which I am continuing in her name."

Mr Gupta said the campaign to re-name the road where she worked for so many years had the backing of MPs and ward councillors.

Dr Gupta's kind and generous actions earned her a People's Oscar' award when the Telegraph & Argus ran a community scheme for the new millennium to find Bradford's best citizens.

A spokesman for the Council confirmed the petition had been received and would be considered.

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