People across the country have taken to their doorsteps to clap or bang their pots and pans since Thursday, March 26 to show their gratitude to the NHS workers on the frontline of the battle against COVID-19. The founder has said she thinks that now the Thursday evening ritual clap is in its 10th week, it should end and be made an annual event.

Dutch Londoner Annemarie Plas brought the clap for carers to the UK ten weeks ago after she found out about it happening in the Netherlands.

However, after it has “carried us through the peak of the crisis”, she now thinks its legacy should be a living wage fo the lowest paid carers.

Ms Plas told Sky News: “I think that Clap for Carers was maybe used with other intentions than what I started it with.

“My idea was to show appreciation and to connect the communities, whilst we did that, and that is something for us, as it was really important to a nation, I felt that some people might have used it for other reasons than that.”

“I think it’s good to have the last of the series, because to have the most impact I think it is good to stop it at its peak.

Ms Plas voiced her concerns about the clap getting too politicised.

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

SEE MORE: Lockdown breach: How to report people ignoring lockdown rules

Last week Boris Johnson tweeted: “Thank you to all of our carers for your fantastic work, day in, day out. You are pillars of society in the fight against coronavirus.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: “Another emotional moment as the country comes together to clap for our key workers, our carers and all those keeping our country going through this crisis.”

Prime Minister Mr Johnson has said ministers were thinking about how to recognise the work of healthcare staff and carers.

This comes following a statement from Health Secretary Matt Hancock saying he wanted to give nurses a “fair reward” for their work.