Momentum builds in campaign to honour Alan Turing on £10 note

More than 7,000 people have signed an e-petition to get computing pioneer Alan Turning's portrait appearing on the back of the UK's £10 notes.

The campaign is the brainchild of Thomas Thurman, who argued that Turing's contribution to computer science and the impact that has had on modern life is worthy of recognition.

"The ripple-effect of his theories on modern life continues to grow, and may never stop," wrote Thurman on the petition site.

Currently, the £10 note features Charles Darwin. But as the as the petition notice states, this is a so-called E-series design. With many other sterling banknotes on the F-series, the £10 note looks in line for an overhaul.

"We therefore call upon the Treasury to request the Bank of England to consider depicting Alan Turing when Series F £10 banknotes are designed," the petition states.

The government has previously refused to pardon Turning posthumously, after rejecting an e-petition that had attracted 23,000 signatures.

Turning was convicted of homosexuality-related offences in the 1950s, and he committed suicide two years later.

In 2009, then-prime minister Gordon Brown issued an official apology, but the pardon was rejected earlier this year on the grounds that the convictions were for something that at the time was regarded as a criminal offence.

Turing, who was born on 23 July 1912, led British war-time efforts to crack German encryption codes and is often regarded as the father of computer science.

Currently, the UK government is committed to holding parliamentary debates for any e-petitions that garner 100,000 signatures.