THOUSANDS of fans have joined an online campaign to get one of Bournemouth’s most colourful characters to carry the Olympic torch.

Gordon Roberts – who is often called Gordon the Tramp, despite having a home – has got the support of 4,500 people who plan to nominate him as their “inspirational member of the community” for the honourable task.

Eccentric Gordon, 82, has spent more than 20 years wandering the streets of Bournemouth and is famous for telling the exact time despite never wearing a watch.

He sports a trademark white beard, football scarf and parka jacket and spends his days greeting his legion of fans in the town centre.

His supporters have launched a Facebook group dedicated to making him the town’s official Olympic torchbearer.

They will now nominate Gordon to the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) as a worthy candidate for the job.

The campaign is the brainchild of cousins Jade Reynolds, 21, and Looby Ratcliffe, 20, both from Poole.

Jade said: “Gordon is just the nicest, most genuine man you could ever hope to meet.

“He’s a great person – he’s always got a happy word to say and everyone loves seeing him.

“So when we saw an advert for local heroes to carry the Olympic torch, he was the first person who came to mind.

“We thought we would start the Facebook group to campaign for it and just see how it went.

“We can’t believe the reaction, it’s been absolutely amazing.”

Looby, a sales assistant, said: “People like us have grown up with him – he’s a big part of the community and always stops to chat to people.

“He’s got a real talent as well. A lot of people have been saying they’d rather have someone nice and genuine representing Bournemouth than a snobby person from the town hall in a suit.

“We’d love to see a local hero carrying the Olympic torch and doing us proud.”

When asked if he would perform the task, Gordon said: “I might do it if I was asked but it would depend on what I was doing that day.”

The Olympic Torch Relay will take place around the UK from May 19 to July 27 2012.

Some 8,000 torch bearers will carry the flame for 300 metres each, travelling the length and breadth of the country.