Residents across Kent took to their doorsteps once again to clap – but this time in the memory of a national hero.

The family of Captain Sir Tom Moore said they were 'incredibly touched' after Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged the nation to take part in the show of appreciation for the 100-year-old, who died yesterday.

Vigo Village residents clap for Captain Sir Tom Moore this evening

Sir Tom's death after testing positive for Covid-19 has prompted reaction from around the world and charities have vowed his legacy will live on "for years and years".

His family said the last year of his life was "nothing short of remarkable" and that he had "experienced things he'd only ever dreamed of".

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Captain Tom's contribution – having raised more than £32 million for the NHS during the first coronavirus lockdown – would be formally marked.

Asked whether a statue might be built "in possibly his home town or where he was born or in London", Mr Hancock told LBC: "Yes, I do think that we should find a way, at the right time, to honour the contribution that he made to the NHS and he was an inspiration to so many people."

Port of Dover Police clapped for Sir Tom this evening

TV presenter Nick Knowles has suggested a permanent statue on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, saying an image of the fundraising veteran swathed in the Union flag would be a "constant reminder of positivity" for the nation.

Sir Tom's fundraiser touched the hearts of the nation by completing 100 laps of his garden.

Originally setting out to raise £1,000 for NHS Charities Together, his efforts struck a chord with the nation which caused the donations flooded in.

It was revealed in an interview with the Daily Mail that Capt Moore met the love of his life, Pamela, in Gravesend.

The pair were working together for a roofing materials company.

Pamela was the office manager for the firm's headquarters in Gravesend while Capt Moore worked as a sales manager in his native Yorkshire.

He recalled the times driving down to Kent on multiple occasions to see Pamela for work and their romance blossomed.

"As it so happened, the office manager in Gravesend was a rather attractive young lady – she looked terrific to me, like a model – so I had to do various trips and, shall we say, the ­attraction with the office manager became stronger and I eventually married her," he said.

The pair would often take trips to Marks & Spencer which Capt Moore described as his wife's "dream day out" so he recalls doing that a lot together, he said.

Chief nursing officer for the NHS, Ruth May, said: "Nurses and other staff are working hard to care for all of our patients with Covid and other conditions but I hope that as many colleagues as possible can find time to take part in this tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore, a huge supporter of the NHS and a truly remarkable man."

A mum from Gravesend called for the war veteran to be made the face of the NHS.

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