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The Prime Minister has given her backing to a new '999 Day' to pay tribute to all the people working in the emergency services.

Emergency Services Day, also referred to as 999 Day, aims to copy the success of Armed Forces Day, and will take place for the first time on September 9, beginning at 9am, to represent the 9th hour of the 9th day of the 9th month.

The charity National Emergency Services Memorial (NESM) has won the backing of Theresa May for the event as it hopes to raise £2 million to build the first national cenotaph dedicated to the courage and sacrifice of public servants.

The monument would honour the 7,000-plus personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty and also give thanks to the more than one million people working in the sector today.

The Prime Minister said: "I'm proud to support this national memorial and the creation of an official Emergency Services Day.

"The men and women of our emergency services are there for us when we need them most.

"As a nation, we are indebted to them for their courage and their sacrifice and it is absolutely right that we should honour their incredible service in this very special way."

A special event to mark the first 999 Day will be held at Heaton Park in Manchester on September 9, to promote volunteering in the emergency services, educate the public about using the services responsibly, teach life-saving skills, and promote the work done on a daily basis.

A thanksgiving service will be held ahead at Manchester Cathedral on September 7, to be attended by police, fire and other 999 personal along with the Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service, Nick Hurd.

Tom Scholes-Fogg, who founded NESM, said: "I am delighted that the charity and its aims have the support of our Prime Minister.

"The NESM, festival and 999 Day are a great opportunity for us all to honour the men, women and service animals who have given so much in the name of public duty."

More information is available at www.999day.org.uk/getinvolved.