A 90-year-old inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore’s fundraising efforts to climb the equivalent of a mountain on her stairs for charity has said he must have been “a wonderful person”.

Margaret Payne, of Ardvar, Sutherland, raised £436,000 after scaling the height of the 731-metre Suilven on her staircase at home.

Sir Tom died at the age of 100 on Tuesday morning after testing positive for Covid-19.

The Second World War veteran was knighted in recognition of his efforts, raising more than £32 million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday during the first national lockdown in April.

Mrs Payne said his death was “very sad” as she paid tribute to him.

She said: “I don’t see anybody else ever making that kind of money for a cause.

“I think he was quite outstanding in every way, that he survived the Burma campaign and lived to be so old.

“I think he must have been a wonderful person.”

Mrs Payne’s staircase climbing raised funds for the NHS, the Highland Hospice and the RNLI.

She was honoured by the Queen for her efforts, receiving a British Empire Medal for services to the community in Lochinver, Sutherland