A GROUP set up to support the community during the pandemic is celebrating handing out 1,000 masks.

As the government is increasingly advising the use of cloth face coverings, a band of volunteer sewers have come together to provide cloth face coverings to members of local communities

Libby White has set up a 'mask tree' at Station Road in Grassington (opposite Boots Pharmacy) in an effort to ensure that everyone who needs a cloth face covering can access one.

The mask tree has now handed out 1,000 face coverings.

Libby said: "Everyone is welcome to take a mask if they need one. We’re not charging for the masks but hope people will leave a donation to help cover the costs of the materials."

Profits from donations in excess of costs are going to Macmillan Cancer Support and Carers Resource, and so far total £208.

Masks are in a plastic bag and available in different sizes, styles and colours.

The mask tree is part of a national effort, with trees popping up all across the country. Other masks trees can be found via the interactive map on the website www.communitymasktrees.org.

People can also help by making masks themselves to help stock the tree, or even by hosting their own tree.

Libby wants to encourage people to “host a mask tree, support your community, and help us to grow a national forest”.

More information is available by visiting the Community Mask Trees Facebook page, www.communitymasktrees.org, or by following @masktrees on Twitter.

The initiative was originally started in Salisbury, Wiltshire, by Naomi Betts who had been volunteering her skills to produce scrub bags and scrubs since the start of the pandemic.

In just a matter of weeks, over 250 trees across the country have been set-up and the growth is set to continue, establishing a 'national forest'.

For more information please contact Libby White at libbywhite26@hotmail.com or on 07963 647185.