Northampton's lift tower to turn blue for first time tonight to pay tribute to NHS workers

Northampton's iconic lift tower will light up blue tonight, as part of a tribute to the frontline NHS workers who are treating poorly Northamptonians across the town.

The National Lift Tower, off the Weedon Road, will pay homage to the town's very own heroes at 8pm when the nation plans to step out onto their doorsteps to drum pots and pans and Clap for Carers.

It comes as one Chronicle & Echo reader called for the tower to be lit up in last week's print edition.

Chris Chan wrote a letter to this newspaper explaining how it would be a 'beacon of hope' for the town as medics and nurses battle the coronavirus pandemic.

Eleven new deaths were announced at Northampton General Hospital today, taking the total at the Cliftonville site to 126.

Across Northamptonshire the recorded amount of deaths has now reached 204.

Mat Lawrence from Daventry firm, MLE Pyrotechnics and Kvant Lasers, have been working for the past few weeks to make the display possible tonight.

The letters 'NHS' will be projected onto the former lift-testing tower from 8pm to about 11pm - with blue laser lights beaming into the night sky. The lasers will be most visible after 9:30pm.

Mat explained how it will work: "We’ve been working with the owners of the lift tower to display some text on the side of the structure using our high-powered full-colour laser projectors. We’re one of a handful of companies in the UK with lasers of this power.

"Tonight will be a combination of a rehearsal and the real thing so we’ll be trying some ideas and seeing what works. The second round, possibly next week, would involve lasers off the top of the lift tower itself.

"We’d like to thank the owners and the Saints Rugby ground for their collaboration in this effort but most importantly to those at the NHS, the carers and key workers all working very hard.

"The lasers will only be visible from the town facing side so please don’t travel as you will see nothing from any other view. Stay at home, stay safe."