STAFF at North Berwick’s Edington Cottage Hospital were treated to an extra special Clap for Carers last Thursday when the town’s posties pulled up outside to lead the applause.

Residents on St Baldred’s Road cheered the Royal Mail workers and the Edington nurses, who waved from the hospital doorway.

Royal Mail delivery office manager Paul Howson said: “These nurses are the backbone of our country and are putting their own lives in jeopardy every day going to work; we cannot thank them enough.”

The local posties are known for going that extra mile to help others.

A video posted on Facebook two weeks ago showed their vans pulling up to deliver a bundle of birthday presents to Mr Howson’s daughter Keira, aged 11, at home during lockdown.

Mr Howson said: “She messaged me that night to say it was the best birthday ever. I’m not going to lie, I was a bit emotional myself – I had to sneak away round the corner!

“It just shows how much of a team they [the postal workers] are.

“When I mentioned doing it [delivering the presents to Keira], one of them returned from Gullane to help, one came back from Athelstaneford, just to do that, then went back out to finish their delivery.

“They have been so flexible since the start of the pandemic – they’ve had to make all sorts of changes.

“People are doing afternoon shifts, who never normally would; people are coming in at 6am who would never normally start till half seven, to adhere to social distancing.

“I feel the whole community has come together.

“The generosity and behaviour of everyone in the town towards the postal workers right now is amazing.

“Some of us are getting gifts, all the supportive signs in people’s windows, it’s great.”

The North Berwick postal staff have also donated three bags of soap, toothpaste and other toiletries to the Edington.