Watch as two-day-old baby Oscar from Hartlepool joins in the latest 'Clap For Carers'

Hartlepool couple Scott Gretton and Rachel Taylor, both 32, as well as their two-day-old baby Oscar, all joined in with the Clap For Carers event.

For Scott and Rachel, there was extra special reason to show their appreciation as they had feared Oscar would arrive in the world when the effects of the coronavirus were at their worst.

“His due date was this Saturday coming, and I said to Rachel ‘it is going to be bad by then’,” said Scott, a construction company director from Seaton Carew.

But, after a 25-hour labour, Oscar arrived in the world on Tuesday and Scott had nothing but praise for the entire team at the University Hospital of North Tees.

“The whole saving grace was how professional and well organised the entire team were,” said Scott.

“The maternity team reassured me. They were frank, and open, and everywhere you looked there were calm faces. They could not do enough for you and I felt as if we were in good hands.

“We were definitely going to be clapping at 8pm – even little Oscar!”

What a week it has been for the Hartlepool couple. They welcomed their 7lb 10oz boy into the world on Tuesday evening.

Rachel, who runs a beauty business, gave birth after a challenging 25-hour labour and Scott – who had been there for the birth but had to leave the unit soon after due to stringent COVID-19 rules – returned to visit on Wednesday morning.

Working in secret with the midwives, he dressed his son in a baby grow as part of his plan to ask for his partner’s hand in marriage.

The message on it said: “Mammy, will you marry my daddy.” And Rachel said yes to make it a week this couple will never forget.

Last night’s Clap For Carers was expected to have been even bigger than the first one a week ago with people all over the country being urged to clap, bang pans with wooden spoons, sing, or cheer.

Scott featured in the Mail last year after his dog gave him a scare by climbing on to the porch roof of his Hartlepool home.

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