THIS is the heart-wrenching moment a gran gets a surprise hug from her daughter and the grandchild she's never met.

Lorraine viewers were left in tears this morning as they watched grandmother-of-11 Jennie Grimes get a cuddle from her family.

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It comes as advice against hugging loved ones finally comes to an end for the first time since March 2020 – opening the door for much longed-for physical contact.

Jennie, of Cambridgeshire, was surprised by daughter Kerry, who drove 200 miles so her mum could finally have a hug.

The family was kept apart for 17 months as a result of Covid restrictions.

And it meant carer Jennie was unable to meet her granddaughter Savannah, who was born during lockdown last year.

She also went without seeing Kerry's other daughters Sophie and Sienna. 

During her special appearance on the show, Kerry said: "It's been horrendous. It's been such a long time coming.

"Having a baby during lockdown was really, really difficult.

"My mother's a key worker. My husband John, he's a key worker. So we didn't get to travel very much at the beginning."

The mother-of-three and her children were waiting on Jennie's drive with Ria Hebden, who had travelled to capture the special moment. 

And Jennie immediately burst into tears as she hugged her family.

The emotional reunion reduced viewers to tears, with some saying they were 'bawling'.

"That family reunion on Lorraine just made me bawl my eyes out," one said.

"That one got me good."

Another said: "Absolutely bawling my eyes out watching the nana with her grandkids.

"I can't wait to see my little nana, 14 months is a long time."

Brits have been making the most of hugging again as England steps forward into stage three of Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown. 

And today has been dubbed 'happy hug day' as a result of the change.

Despite the good news, Brits have been warned hugs are "high risk" amid growing Indian variant cases.

Matt Hancock urged "keep it outside" after cases of the super-infectious mutation surged last week.

The Health Secretary said yesterday: "We should all be careful, we all know the risks, outside is safer than inside – so even though you can, from tomorrow, meet up inside, it's still better to meet up outside.

"I think personal responsibility is an important mantra here.

"People have been so responsible through the crisis and they've really listened and followed the guidance and instructions that the Prime Minister set out, and that's the approach we should take together."

He said he would hug his parents outside, and try and keep outdoors as much as possible.

And he added he would be avoiding indoor pub tables "for the moment", and urged Brits to make sure they keep windows open if going inside.

Meanwhile, Professor Peter Openshaw of Imperial College London said of hugging: "This is a high-risk procedure, I would say in medical terms, and I would certainly not be embracing people closely.

"I think we're all in agreement that this is a moment when we need to be very cautious if we're going to preserve our freedoms going forward into the summer."

Step three in the PM's roadmap is the biggest unlocking so far – with indoor dining, hugs, holidays and casual sex back on the cards. 

And those happy to brave the rain can meet in groups of up to thirty in a pub garden. 

Despite larger numbers allowed to meet outside, social distancing between different groups will be encouraged.

It is the first time since November that all Brits can once again mix inside.

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