THE grounds of Basingstoke hospital came alive on Sunday evening as locals joined in with the latest ‘clap for the NHS’ event to commemorate the organisation’s special occasion.

The event was part of a nationwide applause held at 5pm on Sunday to not only mark the 72nd anniversary of the NHS, but to reiterate the nation’s gratitude to all of the organisation’s staff and key workers.

Staff and local residents, including the Edmonds family from Rooksdown, who were kitted out special t-shirts for the occasion, gave an enthusiastic two-minute applause outside the front of the hospital.

It is hoped that this will go down as the first of many annual applauses to mark the service’s anniversary each year.

Scroll through our gallery to relive the scenes of early Sunday evening.

Alternatively, you can watch back our Facebook Live recording, which includes an interview with hospital matrons Katrina Mason and Simone Holman, by going to the Gazette’s Facebook page.