SURPRISE messages of thanks have been painted outside Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Poole Hospital to highlight the gratitude for all the efforts of NHS workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

BCP Council instructed highways engineers to mark out the 'Thank you NHS' signs outside both sites.

Bournemouth Echo: The sign outside Royal Bournemouth Hospital. Picture: Royal Bourenmouth and Christchurch Hospitals TrustThe sign outside Royal Bournemouth Hospital. Picture: Royal Bourenmouth and Christchurch Hospitals Trust

The road artwork in Longfleet Road, Poole, also includes a rainbow, while the painting in Deansleigh Road, Bournemouth, has a rainbow-coloured heart shape.

Sharing the road artwork on social media, Poole Hospital said: "Lovely surprise to see this outside the hospital today. A big thank you to BCP Council and all their partners for this fantastic gesture of support."

The council, whose suppliers donated the materials to carry out the work, said: "A lovely substitute for Clap For Carers."