A PRIMARY school is helping to protect frontline NHS staff...by using its 3D printers

Staff at Chalkwell Junior School, in Leigh, have repurposed the use of the equipment to produce protective visors for workers.

Nick Hanshaw, the man in charge of the primary school’s production line, is producing a visor an hour to help protect NHS staff.

The school is now looking for donations to buy another printer and speed up the process.

Louise Ford, who has set up a JustGiving page, added: “Help us raise money for them to buy another CEL Robox printer, so they can print more masks to help protect those people doing an amazing job.

“We have received lots of generous donations of materials, and I don’t want to overwhelm the school with more as they can currently only produce three every two to three hours.

“Instead I thought it would make sense to take donations towards another printer, which would help to speed up production and get the masks out quicker.”

The team has also produced the designs for the visors, which can be used by anyone with a 3D printer, and can be downloaded online.

The JustGiving page set up to keep their production line going, and to fund a new printer, has raised £3,000.

The visors will be donated to various NHS and key workers across Southend.

The Essex Coronavirus Action, a branch of Essex County Council which offers support to families and the vulnerable, has thanked the school for the visor production.

A spokesman said: “A massive well done to Nick Hanshaw and the guys at Chalkwell Hall Junior School who have been repurposing their collection of 3D printers to become a production line for protective visors that will hopefully give protection to some NHS staff in Southend and other key workers.

“They are also making their design available to anyone else with a 3D printer.”

Chalkwell Junior School were not available to comment.

To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chjsmakemasks?

Also see the Essex Coronavirus Action Facebook page.

To download the design of the visor, visit https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4233193.