A RESOURCEFUL Colchester couple have set up a makeshift factory in their hallway at home to produce protective equipment for key workers.

William James, senior science technician at St Helena School, is using the school's three 3D printers to produce safety visors for care home workers and the like.

Partner Claire Fisher has borrowed another from Finborough School, where she is a science teacher, and the couple are working day and night to produce PPE for distribution across Colchester.

From their New Town home the pair have already created 650 visors and headbands and are now producing roughly 60 pieces of equipment each day.

Claire said: "We found out there was an issue in the community with PPE and in particular supplies of face shields were desperately low.

"We collected the three printers from St Helena and one from my school and brought them home and started printing as soon as we could.

"We have had them going from 7am until around 11pm every day.

"Pepi Sanchez from the GO4 cafe has been distributing some around the area to places like supported living homes.

"We are also sending them out via Tony Lee of the FaNs Network.

"He has been doing a great job delivering them all over the borough and in particular to care homes where they are really struggling to get hold of things."

Gazette: William James at workWilliam James at work

Demand has been so high, the couple have set up a Go Fund Me page in order to raise cash to purchase more PLA, or Polylactic Acid, the material used to create the visors.

They've already raised £600 and say any spare donations will be split between Colchester Foodbank and GO4 cafe.

William said: "I have ordered another printer so we can make even more each day.

"They are all going from morning to night at the moment and we have to keep servicing them to keep them running."

Claire added: "It feels a bit like a factory at home."

Donate at gofundme.com/f/3d-printing-ppe-visors-for-keyworkers.