IT has been long overdue, but today, it is the first NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers’ Day.

The day, dedicated to key workers in mid Essex and beyond, is a chance to show them just how much they mean to you.

Across the country there will be a services of reflection, the NHS flag being flown on buildings, and offices being lit blue in the evening.

We asked you to celebrate the key workers in your family or friendship group by shining a light on their hard work.

These are some of your messages:

Theresa Murray said: "No specific person, absolutely everyone, without those amazing people we couldn’t have got where we are but they also outshine themselves with loss of lives, support, family, sickness, can’t thank them all enough.

"Please don’t forget GP’s, schools , supermarkets , convenient stores, fire, police , (this is no specific order) I can go on - but you will get bored. Huge big thank you again.

Mollie Kershaw praised all staff at The New Deanery care home in Bocking.

Daniel Cook thanked all the public transport workers who have helped get the key workers to work.

Angie Golden said: "All at Allen house, all through the pandemic the staff there have been 100 per cent to keep our customers safe."

Lian Milbourn added: "All my lovely colleagues at caring Direct, but honestly I believe all front line workers deserve a thank you.

"Shop workers to nurses, the bin men, the whole lot of them for working through this and coming out the other side."

Laura Pepper thanked several members of her family for their hard work.

She said: "All of them especially my step mum Carol Greenslade and my niece Ellie Phillips-Huxley and my little bro Dickie Barlow all worked hard during these horrible nightmares."