A cider producer has repurposed their equipment to make hand sanitiser for a local hospital writes John Bett.

The award-winning Healeys Cornish Cyder Farm have started using their on-site gin distillery to make urgently required hand sanitiser.

Staff at the farm, in Penhallow, Cornwall, were approached by the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske who were running low on supplies.

The cider farm will now be providing 100 litres a week of sanitiser to the hospital, free of charge, to help NHS workers battling the Coronavirus pandemic.

Sam Healey, managing director of operations, said: "It goes without saying that we will do what it takes to help the NHS in Cornwall during these difficult times.

"We are using our on-site gin distillery in a new innovative way.

"We've been provided with an NHS / World Health Organisation approved recipe to make alcohol-based hand rub and are supplying 100 litres every week to Royal Cornwall Hospital, free of charge starting from today - and for the foreseeable future."

Piran Clark, from the hospital, said: "As we all know, the NHS is in extraordinary times in regards to the health of vulnerable people across the country but we have been amazed by the incredible support shown to us by businesses in Cornwall to help support us in giving the best possible care we can.

"The speed in which Healey's has been able to turn around this new hand sanitiser for us has gone a long way in helping us keep those at Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske safe from the Coronavirus infection.

"A massive thank you to Healey's at this challenging time for us all here in Cornwall."

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