A new event is being inked into the local events calendar this month to honour the efforts of people who went the extra mile in Gloucestershire during the coronavirus pandemic.

Gloucestershire Day will take place on Monday, September 21 - World Appreciation Day - and is described as "an opportunity to celebrate the spirit and strength of our communities".

The event is being organised Gloucestershire County Council with plans to make it an annual event.

Council leader Councillor Mark Hawthorne said: "Our communities have really come together during Covid-19, showing incredible spirit and resolve to help each other through this crisis.

"We thought a Gloucestershire Day would be a fantastic way to publicly thank our unsung heroes who have provided support to others, as well as promote everything that is great about our amazing county.

"You can get involved however you like - through social media, by painting or designing something or putting a Gloucestershire flag in your window, it's up to you. We hope everyone will join in the celebrations for this special day."

He continued: "Gloucestershire Day will be a time to celebrate everything that is great about our county, our plans for economic recovery and the businesses, areas of interest and hidden treasures that make Gloucestershire such a special place.

"Our vision is that we can join together on the same day for years to come, to remember the valiant efforts of our public services, our schools and our community as a whole."

The council is asking for people to nominate their county heroes to be showcased on social media and to share short video clips or photos showing how they are safely celebrating or showcasing what makes Gloucestershire special to them.

A downloadable Gloucestershire flag for schools, businesses and the public is available at gloucestershire.gov.uk/glosday