London's Covid wall of hearts

London's wall of hearts - 26th April 2021

Thousands of red hearts are being painted on an enormous wall in London as a memorial to people who have lost their lives to Covid-19. The group organising the project consists of families of those who have passed away, and also volunteers.

Each heart is different as it represents a person who lost their life in the pandemic.

Matt Fowler, whose father was only 56 when he died of Covid-19, says: "This is an outpouring of love." He likes that each heart is unique, "just like the loved ones we have lost."

The painted wall begins just by Big Ben on Westminster Bridge and will stretch more than a kilometre along the southern bank of the River Thames. It is also outside the well-known hospital, St Thomas'. This is where the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson went when he had Covid last year.

Sir Keir Starmer, a UK politician, visited the wall. He spoke to some of the painters. He said: "It’s very moving and emotional to hear first-hand from those who have lost someone and what it means to them."

The organisers of the wall hope that the hearts will help people with their sadness. They also want to make sure the British government never forgets the number of people who have died in the pandemic.