DORSET residents took to their doorsteps for potentially the last time yesterday, as this week's Clap for Carers could be the last.

This was the tenth week of the weekly show of appreciation and support for NHS and key workers across the country throughout the pandemic, but the campaign's creator now thinks it's time to stop.

The campaign was started by Annemarie Plas, a Dutch yoga teacher living in south London. However, she feels that the time has come to stop the weekly show of support.

Ms Plas, 36, last week told the PA news agency she has no problem with people continuing to gather at 8pm each week to clap, but said she will not be among those taking part in future.

She said: “To have the most impact I think it is good to stop it at its peak.

“Without getting too political, I share some of the opinions that some people have about it becoming politicised.

“I think the narrative is starting to change and I don’t want the clap to be negative.”

Among the people clapping this week were firefighters, who also paid tribute to their colleagues who had been battling the Wareham Forest fire.

A spokesman for Bridport Fire Station said: "On the final clap for carers we’d like to thank everyone for doing their bit during the pandemic. Although we are still not fully over it yet, it’s due to the hard work of the NHS, key workers and you that has now allowed us to move on to the next stage. We should continue to follow the guidelines, look after one another and help move on to the next stage."

A spokesman for Purbeck Police said: "For the past 11 days we have been on road closures for the Wareham Forest fire, and have seen first hand how hard the fire service has worked to save our well loved forest.

"Therefore I felt very proud this evening to be able to join some of them at Wareham Fire Station to clap with them and to thank them, and all emergency services and key workers for their hard work, not just during this difficult time but always."