A SMALL-business owner from Wem has been helping care workers and other frontline staff combat COVID-19 by creating plastic face masks.

Chris Carter runs Monstrous Makings, a firm that usually specialises in making tabletop-game figurines, using a 3D printer.

Various 3D printer plans for medical face masks have been produced, and realising he was in a unique position to make them himself, Chris wanted to get involved.

"I've never been able to contribute to the Wem community," said Chris. "Other home-based businesses contribute to the weekly market, but what I do is on demand so I cant really do that.

"There have been some pioneering companies with 3D printing designs to help the NHS, but I've been dubious about starting.

"I just made the one up, put it on Facebook and there were so many comments from nurses and care workers saying yes please.

"The procurement department at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital got in touch, but it's not quite useful for them because it's not reusable.

"It seemed to peter out in the last few days, but then BBC Shropshire did a report and a load more orders came in.

"North Shropshire Home Care, a residential care home in Whitchurch ordered some, as had the cleaners from St Peters in Wem.

"We've serviced the doctors here in Wem, the funeral home and Landona House.

"Now that we've got a bit more exposure, it's taken off."

To enquire about a mask, visit facebook.com/MonstrousMakings