A WOMAN from Ellesmere Port is making hundreds of special headbands which hospital staff and carers can attach their protective face masks to so they avoid getting painful sores.

Beckie Blundell, 30, came up with the idea to help the frontline workers she describes as "heroes" after her sister Gemma Farr – a nurse at Ellesmere Port Hospital – complained about having sore ears as a result of wearing the masks due to the coronavirus crisis.

She sewed buttons on a headband so the mask could attach to them rather than being wrapped around her ears.

Her sister's colleagues on Bluebell Unit were so impressed with the headbands she decided to make them all one too.

Now Beckie has been inspired to launch an online fundraising appeal so she can create the headbands in bulk to help even more health care staff.

She has so far raised nearly £500 – every penny of which will be used to make hundreds of headbands.

Beckie said: "I've made 150 so far and have got a list of requests of over 400 – and that's building every day.

"My sister is a nurse and a couple of days ago she was complaining about how her ears were sore due to the masks she has to wear.

"So I decided to make her a headband with buttons which she can attach the mask to. Since then her colleagues have asked about it.

"I have decided to make her colleagues one each and any other nurse or carer – all free of charge. They were made up with them. I’ve just dropped another batch off at the hospital and her colleague thanked me, saying how it's saved their ears.

"Each headband costs £1 to buy and make with no costs to the people who need them the most. All funds raised will go towards buying headbands and anything else raised will go to NHS charity."

To donate to Beckie's appeal click here.