CAMPAIGNERS have launched an urgent appeal to help protect health staff in the frontline of the fight against the Coronavirus.

A group of Cumbrian businesses, together with a Carlisle school and a Workington college are appealing for £30,000 so they can print plastic face shields for Cumbria's NHS staff round the clock on 3D Printers - to ensure there is enough to go around.

The team aim to make 100 a day but they are looking for help to meet the cost of the expensive filaments that the printers use.

So far they have raised about £2,500 through an online Gofundme appeal and are on the brink of delivering their first 1000 shields to NHS hospital staff in Carlisle.

The team includes Paul Thorburn at Tech4 Office Equipment Ltd, Niall Mitchell at SkunkWorks Engineering Ltd, Carlisle, the Engineering Department at the Energy Coast University Technical College, Workington, the Design and Technology Department at Richard Rose Morton Academy, Carlisle, and Jon Stynes Design, Brampton.

The shields provide a vital extra layer of protection against the Coronavirus and is worn in conjunction with other protective gear like face masks.

Paul, from the Carlisle firm, said: "It is frightening, we are in a situation that no-one has foreseen so we just do all we can to help.

"We have a skill that we can use, that can help them.

"I've been working with Niall for four or five years now, it was largely his brainchild to be honest.

"It takes about one and a half hours to make a shield and we have about seven printers working.

"It’s a big ask I know in the current situation but can anyone spare a tenner.

"Some people have been super generous but if we all give a little I’m sure we can produce many thousands.

"We've had many enquiries from people like care workers as well - our aim is to give these things out for free.

"You can help us by donating funding but also if you would like to get involved in helping to 3D print that would be great too."

To contribute go online to: gofundme.com/f/help-keep-our-nhs-staff-safer