An army of Congleton sewing volunteers have rallied together to ensure that a staggering total of 1256 scrub bags have been distributed to key frontline workers in the fight against coronavirus.

Two weeks ago, Congleton resident Natalie Dickson received a plea from a neighbour, who worked at Macclesfield Hospital.

Nurses at Macclesfield were in desperate need of more scrub bags for their wards, which had turned into coronavirus specific wards.

Mrs Dickson told Nub News: "I desperately wanted to help these brave men and women in any way I could.

"I was put in touch with an embroidery company by the wonderful Mandy Cooper."

Mrs Dickson couldn't thank the Congleton based embroidery company CMJ enough for their assistance.

Mrs Dickson added: "I cannot tell you how generous and thoughtful Jo and James Ross are. The first trip I took to their factory, they gave me 600 brand new ready-made laundry bags, which filled my car to the brim."

Two weeks ago, Mrs Dickson who works as an alteration tailor, took the bags to her neighbour straight away and they were then distributed between the nurses and the other staff who needed them.

However, the demand and need for more wash bags didn't stop there, Mrs Dickson received a further plea from a lady who works at the David Lewis Centre based in Alderley Edge, the staff there needed up to 600 scrub bags as they too had now been issued with special uniforms to wear.

Mrs Dickson put out a plea for the community to help her make the scrub bags on social media, which got over 3,500 views, she also needed further fabric.

Mrs Dickson added: "Jo Ross had already mentioned to me that they had mounds of brand-new duvets and pillowcases and to get in touch if I needed any.

"So, I did and within an hour Jo and James were meeting me at the factory again. 12 boxes later my car was full, and I delivered a box of duvets to the many ladies who very kindly offered their help and a few ladies came to my house to collect a box off my doorstep."

Residents left Mrs Dickson bags of fabric, curtains and old duvets on her doorstep and there were bags donated by charity Ruby's Fund.

After the volunteers had all been at their sewing machines for days, together they made 656 scrub bags in the last week, 600 of which were put into five boxes and collected by a lady from the David Lewis Centre yesterday morning.

The other 56 scrub bags will go towards the North Staffordshire Hospital contribution, where some of the volunteers have already started sewing a further 44 to take the tally to 100.

Mrs Dickson continued: "The way everyone has rallied together during these unprecedented times is amazing, I don't know any of these ladies, but a time when people needed help the community came together which is incredible."

Mrs Dickson confirmed that the she had no doubt that if the likes of care homes or further hospitals issued an urgent appeal for scrub bags, the group which consisted of 20+ volunteers would come together to ensure the demand was met.