Video and photos of the amazing 35-vehicle convoy that travelled through Harborough to say thanks to the NHS

Dozens of lorries and vans travelled through Market Harborough on Thursday night to say an incredibly powerful Thank You to NHS heroes fighting Covid-19.

An astonishing 35-vehicle convoy wound their way nose to tail through Harborough as well as Marston Trussell and Lubenham to salute health service staff as well as all key workers.

And hundreds of men, women and children spilled out of their homes in the town and villages to applaud frontline NHS workers – and the volunteer drivers as they streamed past.

The extraordinary, visually-stunning 60-minute tour of thanks was set up by highly-motivated Craig Davies, 46, who owns CJ Sweepers.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/uOWcrtHuD0EEcstatic Craig told the Harborough Mail: “The night was absolutely brilliant – it could not have gone any better.

“We were amazed by all the support we got from people – as we showed our support for the NHS.”

The dad-of-two, who started Marston-based CJ Sweepers 13 years ago, added: “We had a dry run of just three vehicles the week before.

“We are all on furlough at the moment and when I called for our drivers to volunteer to come along on Thursday night everyone put their hands up.

“I had 13 drivers and other local companies joined in and got behind us as well – it was just fantastic.”

Craig said they left their Marston base at 7.30pm before meeting up with the rest of the party at Wellington Place on the northern edge of Harborough.

“We drove past St Luke’s Hospital on Leicester Road to show our appreciation before passing the police and ambulance stations,” he said.

“They were waving at us out of their windows and ambulances had their lights flashing.

“We drove past The Willows care home on Coventry Road before driving along Welland Park Road.

“The response was just incredible.

“Mums and dads and kids rushed out to take pictures of us and shout support as they clapped the NHS.

“We then headed up Lubenham Hill and tracked back through Lubenham.

“And Lubenham really surprised us because it was totally packed with villagers on both sides of the road – they were magnificent.

“Marston turned out for us as well, too, so we were just knocked out by the public’s reaction.”

Paying tribute to the NHS, Craig said: “I can’t speak highly enough of our NHS workers.

“They put their lives on the line every day of the week to save other people’s lives.

“We should applaud and respect them not just now – but for ever.

“I don’t care who you are – we all need the NHS.

“I’d also like to salute other key workers too.

“Shop workers keep us all supplied with food, cleaners also help to keep people alive by cleaning hospitals to combat the coronavirus, binmen and posties.

“It cost me £1,000 alone to put up NHS thank you stickers on all our trucks for this event.

“But it was worth every penny.

“We work with the ambulance service a lot and we know how much pressure they’re under.

“My heart goes out to them.

“And all being well we’ll be back out on the roads and streets of Harborough on Thursday April 30 to say another very special thank you to the one and only NHS.”