York rock fan calls for heavy metal tribute to Lemmy

More than 15,000 people have signed a petition calling for a new element in the periodic table to be named after rock star Ian 'Lemmy' Kilmister.

The petition was started by John Wright from York as a tribute to the Motorhead singer.

Lemmy was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive form of cancer on Boxing Day and died just two days later at his home in Los Angeles, shortly after celebrating his 70th birthday

The petition describes Lemmy as a "force of nature and the very essence of heavy metal" and says it would therefore be fitting for one of four newly discovered heavy metals in the periodic table to be named after him.

Axl Rose is one of the stars backing "Lemmium" as the new chemical name.

You can view the petition here.