A community choir may not be able to raise the roof together but that hasn't stopped them sewing together- albeit in different locations- in order to reduce help reduce the spread of coronavirus in hospitals.

Members of the West Malling Community Choir sewed more than 400 uniform bags in less than four days for therapy staff at hospitals in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.

Musical director Kathryn Ridgeway had the idea after her daughter, an occupational therapist at Maidstone Hospital, explained that a drawstring bag to carry uniforms would lower the risk of contamination, as staff change scrubs each time they enter and leave a coronavirus ward.

Mrs Ridgeway pledged to make 300 drawstring bags in a week and issued a plea for help on email on Friday, April 3.

However, by the following Monday more than 400 had been collected, after a series local of drop-off and pick-up points had been arranged, for people to visit while on their daily exercise.

Mrs Ridgeway said: "Words cannot express my gratitude to everyone for the amazing response to this project. I hope we can maintain this impetus. It is a tangible project where everyone is making a difference to someone local and they know exactly where the bags are going.”

The bags have been given to occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and dieticians.

Mrs Ridgway, who also enlisted help from members of The Maidstone Singers choir and The Healing Voices Choir, of which she is musical director, has now upped her target to 1,000 bags.

Additional bags will be provided for other staff at the hospitals.

Helen Ridgeway said: "

West Malling Community Choir rehearse once a week via Zoom.

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