A CHARITABLE resident has been dubbed 'the face mask queen' after her humble campaign raised thousands for charities.

Michele Perrin, 60, of Ipswich Road, Colchester is feeling good after her campaign which spanned six months helped support charities in the town.

Michele works at the Colchester Sixth Form with one of her roles being their charity co-ordinator.

A former seamstress and aware of the tough times charities are having thanks to the pandemic, Michelle decided to put her skills to good use my making a selling face masks.

Starting in July, the operation was small and saw Michelle make 100 masks and selling them for £2.

Paying for the fabric herself, Michele made £200 from her campaign after selling them quickly to staff at her college.

The masks proved to be a hit with Michele say people just kept on asking for more.

As a result, she teh started buying different fabrics and patterns from the 'Stitches' shop in Colchester where they dubbed her 'the face mask queen'.

The next step was thinking baout what charities to donate the funds to.

Michele said: "I now had to start thinking of what charities needed support and wanted to reflect the age group of those at college.

"I researched and contacted Kids Inspire in Great Baddow and the next amount raised £1,600 was presented to them in October.

"Continuing on, I chose Breast Cancer in October, The Poppy Appeal in November and finally Christmas Face Masks were being asked for so I decided to raise money for Colchester Zoo.

"Spending a weekend from 10.00am to 10.00pm sewing, I made 300 (masks) which have been sold at college, to friends and on the Zoo facebook page raising another £1,100.

"This money will be handed over on Tuesday 29 December when I am going to the Zoo as I am a Gold card holder.

"From a negative time a positive outcome has materialised to make some money for some charities by just making face masks.

"Yes I have put a lot of my time, bearing in mind I work full time and worked through lock down and my husband has been able to have the TV controls to watch what he likes!

"I feel blessed that I have been able to support the charities named above.

"Time for a rest from sewing but maybe more will be made in January."