Sewing machines in South East Cornwall are whirring as volunteers respond to a call for face masks.
In Downderry, mother and daughter team Lara Belcher and Diana Korbelovà, are producing hundreds of the fabric coverings for care homes.
The masks are washable with elastic for ease of putting on and have filters that can be changed.
Lara and Diana say they would like to thank all the residents in and around Downderry and Seaton who have donated money and materials or who have joined them in making the masks. Also thanks to Liz from Painters Art and Craft shop in Liskeard for her donation of elastic and fabric.
All of this help has kept the cost of the masks to about £1 per 10 masks and Lara and Diana are making 100 per day.
To continue with this great work and fulfil the latest requests they have received, they need more materials and would be grateful for any donations made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/face-masks-for-carers.
Meanhwile in Liskeard, the Town Council has supported the Caradon Covid Face Mask Group with a grant for £250.
The group has made more than 200 masks in the past three weeks and delivered them out to carers, residential homes, taxi drivers and shop workers, and says that there is a ’great demand’ for the face coverings.
A spokesperson for the group said: ’So far we have been targeting keyworkers as they tell us they do not have adequate supplies of PPE. We have been told that they are desperate for something to wear to reassure their clients.
’The masks will not stop you getting the virus, however they are said to protect others from getting it from you.’