EVERY household in a village is getting two free face masks through a community coronavirus support network.

Sadberge Coronavirus Support Network has imported 800 washable face masks from an overseas supplier and is offering them to every home in the parish.

Within 24 hours of the scheme's launch, around half of the available masks had been requested by residents and the distribution process is ongoing.

Alastair Mackenzie, from the network’s steering committee, said: “There’s a growing body of evidence that, although a face mask doesn't offer any significant level of protection to the wearer, the transmission of Covid-19 through the population is reduced if enough people wear them, particularly when they’re in enclosed spaces where it’s difficult to maintain social distancing, such as on public transport and in shops.

“These are not medical grade masks, which are needed by NHS staff, but are technically ‘reusable cloth face coverings’ which work by catching moisture droplets breathed out by people who are infected by the coronavirus, but who are unaware of that fact because they aren’t showing any symptoms.

“We’ve also been very careful to ensure that we’re not impacting on the domestic PPE supplies available to the NHS by sourcing our masks from an overseas sports clothing manufacturer that’s turned its production facilities towards making face masks and other protective items.

“There’s been a positive response from the village to the offer of free masks and our team of volunteers has already managed to distribute hundreds of them to local families."

It was funded by a £900 grant from Banks Renewables' community fund.