Clap for our Carers: Watch Scotland rise as one to show support for hero NHS workers

In an incredible show of support for NHS staff leading the fight against the coronavirus outbreak, Scots took to the streets at 8pm to clap in thanks to their work.

The national salute took place to honour the hardworking NHS staff who are trying to battle coronavirus.

In a gesture of thanks to the frontline healthcare heroes, people across Scotland and the UK joined a mass round of applause from their doorsteps, windows and balconies tonight.

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The Clap For Carers campaign, which started online, is being staged because "during these unprecedented times they need to know we are grateful", according to the organisers.

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People across Scotland rose as one to pay tribute to the heroic NHS staff working through the coronavirus outbreak.

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The Scotsman and the Evening News will be sharing clips from around the country over the next few hours.

Royal salute

The royal family and the Prime Minister joined people from all over the UK who flocked to their balconies and windows to applaud the NHS staff battling the coronavirus pandemic.

The national round of applause came after the unveiling of a £9 billion package of support which will see the Government give millions of self-employed people a grant worth up to £2,500 a month.

People took to their balconies and doorsteps to clap and cheer, while vehicles sounded their horns at 8pm on Thursday evening as a gesture of thanks to frontline healthcare heroes.

Boris Johnson was joined by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak outside 10 Downing Street as they took part in the national salute.

And a video posted on the Kensingtonroyal Instagram account showed Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis clapping to thank all those healthcare staff "working tirelessly" to help those affected by Covid-19.

Landmarks lit

The Clap For Carers campaign, which started online, was staged because "during these unprecedented times they need to know we are grateful", according to the organisers.

At the same time, landmarks including Belfast City Hall, Principality Stadium in Cardiff and the London Eye were lit up as part of the #lightitblue salute.

Not long afterwards, a tweet from the NHS account said: "That was emotional."

Earlier, announcing his package for the self-employed, Mr Sunak said the scheme which will be open for at least three months, will cover 80% of a self-employed person's average monthly profits.

But it may not be available until June and will only be available to those who have a tax return for 2019, meaning the newly self-employed will be ineligible.

Tax hikes

And Mr Sunak warned that the self-employed could face tax hikes in the future as part of the effort to "right the ship" and repair the battered public finances after the coronavirus crisis is over.

Details of the scheme came as the Department of Health announced a total of 578 people who have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK have died as of 5pm on March 25.

Some 11,658 people have tested positive in the UK as of 9am on March 26.