Monday 5 July will see the nation come together to say thank you to NHS, social care and frontline workers on what will be the first of an annual day to show our gratitude to them and to remember all those who have lost their lives to Covid.

The date has been chosen as it's the birthday of the NHS which was created in 1948.

Events are planned throughout the day including the raising of flags at 10am, a two-minute silence at 11am, a national toast at 1pm, afternoon tea at 4pm and culminating with clapping and the ringing of church bells at 8pm.

In the Staffordshire Moorlands, a flag will be flown at the District Council's Moorlands House offices in Leek.

The Chairman of the Council, Councillor Paul Roberts, said: "The Covid pandemic, and the nation's response to it, has brought into sharp focus the invaluable role played by the dedicated and selfless people who work in the NHS and social care and those who provide the frontline services we all rely on.

"They deserve our gratitude and our thanks for all they have done, and continue to do, not just during the pandemic but every single day of every single week, month and year.

"To mark the first annual national day of thanks on Monday, the Council will be flying a flag as a symbol of our appreciation here in the Staffordshire Moorlands. I'd also like to encourage residents to join me, and many, many others in our community, in personal reflections as we observe the two minutes silence at 11am to remember all the men and women who have lost their lives in the service of others and those lost to this dreadful virus."