Big hearted teachers have been putting their technical skills to good use by helping to make protective equipment for frontline workers in the fight against the coronavirus.

Staff from Workington Academy and William Howard School, in Brampton, have answered the call to increase the amount of PPE face visors for carers.

Staff and a student from the academy’s design and technology department, led by curriculum leader Peter Robinson, have been using their school’s laser cutter in the production and assembly of the visors from polypropylene and acetate.

They have so far distributed more than 80 to care workers in west Cumbria including Richmond Park, Amathea, Newlands and Clarendon Grange care homes, Gregory House assisted living accommodation and Ava House community care service, based at Northside community centre, in Workington.

Peter said: “It is a privilege to be able to help these staff at such a difficult time.”

Meanwhile, William Howard’s Yvonne Dixon, head of design technology, is working with local businesses and individuals to 3D print headbands for face shields.

Together they can print about 100 a day, and recently delivered 1,000 to Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary with more on the way this week.

The group, based at Warwick-on-Eden, has a GoFundMe page at Help Keep Our NHS Safer and aims to 3D print 10,000 visors.

Yvonne said: “We’ve put the 3D printers to good use during the lockdown.

“They are going constantly making the headbands which are then attached to the visors. Lots of people have got involved and I guess we’ll keep going until someone tells us to stop.”

On April 30 the group announced that 7,500 have been made and delivered.

The team announced on the GoFundMe page: “Thank you for all your support. The team are continuing to 3D print face shields in our aim to get to 10,000 and beyond.

“Please continue to support and we’ll get them to who needs them.”

Another member of the William Howard School staff, Miriam Stewart, has been supporting NHS staff and carers making scrub bags at home.

Both school’s are part of the the multi-academy Cumbria Education Trust.

It is responsible for the education of almost 4,000 students across three secondary and six primary schools.

The trust also runs The Whitehaven Academy.

For more information and to donate to their campaign go online to: www.gofundme.com/f/help-keep-our-nhs-staff-safer