STAFF at a North-East school have set up their own production line to make hundreds of visors to protect frontline care workers.

Hummersknott Academy, in Darlington, has already delivered 200 visors to care homes in the town, using specialist equipment in its design and technology department.

And hundreds more of the personal protection equipment (PPE) visors will be made available to other care homes, as well as Darlington Memorial Hospital, throughout this week.

The Darlington school launched its own production line after acquiring a quantity of polypropylene from UTC South Durham – the university technical college at Newton Aycliffe.

A dozen members of staff – working in teams of three to maintain safe social distancing – have been using a laser-cutter to produce around 100 masks a day. Some team members are already in school to teach the children of key workers, but others have come in specifically to help make the visors.

Hannah Lacey, Faculty Leader of Technology at the school, said: “We put a message on Facebook to let people know that we were making the visors, and we were inundated with messages, especially from care homes, so there is clearly a big need out there.”

Hannah’s mother, who lives with her husband at Middleton St George, needs a high level of care, with carers regularly visiting the house, and the lack of PPE has been evident.

“I’ve seen at first-hand the challenges they face, so we want to do whatever we can to support them,” said Hannah, who has also made protective masks from the school’s existing stock available to carers.

“It hasn’t been easy to get hold of the polypropylene to make the visors, but we were contacted by the UTC to say some had become available, and we were able to get started.

“Everyone involved at Hummersknott feels they are doing something really worthwhile and contributing to the fight against coronavirus, so we’ll keep going until the material runs out.”

Hummersknott Academy principal James Keating said: “I’m really proud of the way the staff have responded in helping to provide this vital protection for people who are doing an incredible job in unprecedented circumstances.”