A paramedic on the frontline of fighting coronavirus burst into tears when she received a round of applause from her entire street as she made her way to work last week.

Tayla Porter, 22, left home to make her way to her shift at Basingstoke and North Hampshire hospital on Thursday when she was greeted by her neighbours clapping and cheering her on.

Overwhelmed with the show of gratitude by her street – who made sure to maintain social distancing rules – Tayla broke down as she made her way to her car.

She began her shift at 4pm, just a few hours before people across the UK joined a nationwide round of applause for the NHS and social care heroes leading the fight against Covid-19.

Emergency care assistant Tayla was cheered on by mum Ali, 55, dad Phil, 55, and sister Tash, 21, who had alerted people in Basingstoke, Hampshire, of the medics vital job.

A few people had posted on the family’s local village forum about joining in the national clap for carers applause, and Ali mentioned to her neighbours that her eldest daughter would be going into work.

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She said she thought nothing more of it until they stepped outside and were greeted by cheers of support.

Ali said: ‘It was overwhelming for all of us. Tayla just couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t believe that people would even notice what she’s doing. She just loves her job.

‘I had no idea the whole street would come out. I just thought it might be our next door neighbours and the house opposite.

‘What I didn’t realise was that every single house had at least one person come out to clap her. It carried on all the way up our street and you could hear them clapping all the way up the next street too.

‘It must have been people texting people or word of mouth, because not everyone is on there. It was so emotional, I could barely speak. It was just overwhelming pride.

‘We barely know anyone on our street. You see each other daily, but you don’t know each other’s names.’

Tayla missed younger sister Tash’s 21st birthday as she headed out on her shift.

Her mum said: ‘There’s been some nights where Tayla’s come back and we’ve had to sit down and she’s had a bit of a cry from being exhausted.

‘She’s seeing things that are quite scary. But she goes out there and puts a brave face on.

‘We don’t know enough about coronavirus and that’s not the only thing they’re facing out there.’

After the video went viral, Ali said it showed how everyone ‘has come together’ amid the coronavirus crisis.

‘You’ve got more time for people and appreciate them more now. It brings you closer,’ she said.

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