Police officers won't be visiting Dorset's hospitals for tonight's Clap for Carers due to crowd concerns.

Dorset Police says it's aware hospitals are becoming focal points during the weekly show of appreciation for frontline workers and the risk is that it could cause harm to the people they are trying to thank.

A spokesman said: "Whilst we are first in line to show support and appreciation to the NHS and the amazing work they are carrying out, we are aware that the hospitals are becoming a focal point for Clap for Carers and the risk is that we could cause harm to those we are trying to thank.

"In line with the government advice on essential travel, any uncommitted officers will stop and clap wherever they happen to be. Officers will no longer be attending hospitals for this purpose and we ask that you also support our NHS colleagues by staying at home and show your support from there."

In a message of support to frontline colleagues, they added: "To the staff in the NHS, just because we are not there at 8pm doesn’t mean we won’t be loudly clapping with the rest of the country.

"We continue to have the greatest admiration for the work you are doing and the risks you are taking for us all."

The message was shared by all of Dorset Police's teams, including Weymouth and Portland, Dorchester, Bridport and Sherborne.

Clap for our Carers is a national campaign which encourages us all to show our appreciation for healthcare workers, emergency services, armed services, delivery drivers, shop workers, teachers, waste collectors, manufacturers, postal workers, cleaners, vets, engineers and all those who are out there making an unbelievable difference to our lives in these challenging times.

The gesture has become a positive weekly fixture, with tonight being the fifth week.

For the past two weeks, police and firefighters have visited their frontline colleagues at the county's hospitals at 8pm to show their appreciation.