How Leeds communities have shown resilience and hope during coronavirus pandemic and lockdown - Laura Collins, YEP Editor

The sombre call to arms signalled the start of a national lockdown which saw the streets of our city fall eerily silent.

Our lives as we knew them were changed forever - we were parted from our families and friends - and forced to adapt to a new sense of normality.

Yet during the lockdown the Yorkshire Evening Post has been there every step of the way, shining a spotlight on the remarkable acts of kindness and inspiring efforts from our city.

We have helped to pay tribute to the army of key workers from across Leeds who have manned the frontline in the fight against coronavirus.

And over the last three months we have featured hundreds of photographs of our inspirational key workers to say thank you for their bravery and sacrifice.

We’ve also been out in the heart of our communities looking at how they have adapted.

From street-wide exercise classes, a volunteer army supporting the vulnerable right through to the innovative ways that independent businesses have diversified as they fight for survival.

And during this time we have been proud to partner with Leeds City Council and developer CEG to help document life in Leeds as part of the Covid Diaries project.

And as we continue to capture and document life in our city, as we have done since 1890, today we look back at just how far our city has come over the last 100 days.

As Leeds continues to come out of this state of hibernation, with the reopening of the hospitality sector at the weekend, now is a moment of quiet reflection on the unsettling journey we have all embarked upon.

Sadly, many families and friends have lost loved ones to the silent assassin.

It has truly been the darkest of times but our sense of resilience and resolve has never been stronger, as we’ve faced this once-in-a-generation challenge head on.