In the ongoing fight against COVID-19, a number of local Lancashire and South Cumbria engineering companies are uniting to help the NHS.

“One of them, Chorley-based Lyndhurst Engineering, has just received its first orders for medical visors, which have been designed, prototyped, tested and clinically approved for use, in just one week.

The strap is made of silicone rubber, the visor of polycarbonate and the head band from polyethylene.

Mark Marriner, Lyndhurst Engineering managing director, said: “When the Health Innovation Campus urged manufacturing businesses in Lancashire and South Cumbria to come forward to support the battle against COVID-19, we felt it was our duty to help.

“The Health Innovation Campus team, working with senior NHS managers, then identified medical visors as desperately needed essential equipment and a manufacturing priority.

“The timescales and approval process was challenging but we were determined to succeed.

“We produced about 10 prototype medical visors, which were distributed to several local hospitals for comments.

“The initial feedback was very positive and we were delighted to get the go ahead to start production.

“We will now be working round the clock shifts, including weekends, to produce as many medical visors as possible.

“By everyone in the cluster working together as one virtual team, we can do our bit to support the great work being done by NHS members and the wider community.”