A HAND sanitiser production facility will produce more than 1m bottles a month to help deal with the shortage left from the coronavirus pandemic.

On Tuesday (March 24), British chemical giant INEOS revealed it would build the new plant in Newton Aycliffe within ten days.

INEOS, which already operates sites in Seal Sands and Newton Aycliffe, said the plant would supply vital hand sanitisers to hospitals, schools, places of work, supermarkets and pharmacies.

Revealing there was a "critical shortage of hand sanitisers" across Europe, the firm said it would be providing the products to hospitals entirely free.

Jim Ratcliffe, founder and chairman of INEOS said: “It is becoming increasingly clear that hand to mouth infection is a significant cause of Corona virus contagion and INEOS is Europe’s largest manufacturer of the core ingredient of hand sanitiser."

Sir Ratcliffe confirmed a further factory built to the same specification within ten days would be constructed in Germany.

Welcoming the announcement, the Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen commended the efforts of INEOS and businesses across the North-East following the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said: “Teesside has a huge amount of expertise in the chemicals sector, and with Ineos already having a facility at Seal Sands building a major new hand sanitiser plant here is the obvious choice – especially given the speed in which it needs to be up and running.

“The national emergency caused by the coronavirus outbreak has seen a mobilisation of industry across the country not seen since the second world war, but businesses large and small across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool have responded.”

Henri Murison, Director of Northern Powerhouse Partnership said INEOS' actions would help boost the NHS's supplies while hospitals prepared for a sudden influx in COVID-19 patients.

He said: “Today’s announcement of plans to build a factory to make hand sanitizer free for those who need it most in our National Health Service, as well as the general public, is a significant demonstration of a major businesses responding to this global health crisis.”

“Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his colleagues action to construct the facility in 10 days is true leadership, and communities and the nation should recognise their action in the national interest.”