Tens of thousands of supporters have rallied behind a UK GP under investigation for asking a woman to remove her veil so he could hear her. 

Two online petitions to the General Medical Council (GMC) have been launched on change.org regarding Dr Keith Wolverson, 52, who is the subject of a complaint.

They have collectively attracted more than 33,000 signatures.  

Dr Wolverson was accused of discrimination and faces being struck off for asking the Muslim woman to remove her niqab because he was having difficulty hearing what she was saying about her sick daughter through the material, according to the largest of the petitions.