MADAM - The clapping on Thursday evenings has thanked the NHS, but it has also done more than that. It has lifted the spirits of the lonely, sad, depressed, lost - everyone who is in lockdown.

We have felt united as a people, we have come as one. Stranger seeing stranger. People in our own street we have never met.

We have smiled, said hello, clapped together, felt a closeness not felt before, not since the war.

I and a great many others still went out to clap on Thursday to show we want to carry on. We are united in this.

Many people in Britain have gained new friendships, have felt a new strength in clapping together. Many who were depressed look forward to the Thursday clapping. Thursday is not just to say thank you to the NHS. It's medicine for all. We want to continue.

Lorraine J Bowen