THERE was no shortage of noise across East Lancashire on Thursday night as thousands of people joined in with the rest of the nation for a collective round of applause in support of NHS staff.

Residents in lockdown took to their doorsteps and opened their windows to clap for the NHS.

From Tockholes to Accrington, Blackburn to Great Harwood, Burnley to Rawtenstall, communities put their hands together in droves as the whole country showed their appreciation at 8pm sharp.

Kirsty Casey and her three children cheered and clapped along from their Blackburn home, with Miss Casey saying: “It was an amazing experience.”

Carla Mclennan from Oswaldtwistle filmed the applause from her street and said: “Absolutely fantastic, Blackburn Road West End are very proud.”

And Courtney Fletcher videoed the residents of St Hubert's Road in Great Harwood from her bedroom window.

There were whoops and cheers, and some people, like David Parker from Blackburn, got creative with the clapping, using saucepan lids and tools to make a racket.

One Facebook user commented: “Wow who knew Ossy could clap so loud?

“Jubilee Street was the loudest I think. Thank you to all the key workers. A country standing together.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak took part in the applause from outside 10 Downing Street.

Posting a video to Twitter, the PM said: “On behalf of the whole country, I want to thank all the incredible nurses, doctors, NHS support staff and carers who are working flat out to fight coronavirus.

“To help them, and protect the NHS, we need everyone to stay at home #StayHomeSaveLives.”

Earlier on Thursday Lancashire Police showed their appreciation by filming a blues and twos applause.

A spokesperson for the police said: “We recorded our NHS applause a little earlier as we were really busy.”