Sewing might be regarded as a stuffy pastime for some but one engineer is encouraging people to make their own face masks.

Simon Ashton, from Gillingham, has created a website which allows people who need facial protection to get in touch with others in their local area who are able to sew them.

Masks are offered free of charge and people arrange themselves how to collect, while observing social distancing rules.

It comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) announced yesterday it was considering changing its guidance on whether people should wear face masks in public.

This follows potential evidence from Asian countries which have seen a reduction in the transmission of the deadly virus.

Simon believes the reluctance to extend advice to wear masks to the public is driven by a fear it could lead to a shortage for healthcare staff.

But he says this doesn't have to mean people can't stitch their own and donate to others.

In fact, he says many of the materials needed are already in most homes, such as cotton and elastic.

The initial idea to produce masks came during a conversation with his wife, Eunji, who comes from South Korea where wearing facial protection is common, even before the virus outbreak.

He said: "There, it is absolutely normal that when you are ill, even with just a cold, you wear a mask when you go outside.

"When I first saw this, I found it strange; it looked like people were about to rob a bank!

"However, I quickly realised it’s just the respectful thing to do, not for yourself but for those around you.

"I’ve always thought it entirely odd that we in the UK are happy to jump on a train to work while we have a cold or flu virus and spread it to everyone we speak to or spent time near."

"When I first saw this, I found it strange; it looked like people were about to rob a bank!"

The engineer then set himself the challenge of designing and making a mask.

He first commandeered some 3D printers from disused schools to see if he could design a suitable prototype but soon discovered the quality was not up to scratch.

"I wanted to be the guy with a special machine that saved the world," he said, "But the 3D printed masks I tried were far from the reliable, protective item people need in a real risk situation."

That was when Simon noticed a campaign in the Czech Republic where people had been encouraged to make their own under similar circumstances.

They created a website that showed the location of each person with masks available, and a contact email to share.

He said: "People even hung them on telephone poles to make ‘mask trees’ and anyone who needed it could take one.

"Within just a few days everyone in the country had a face mask and it was made mandatory to wear one outside."

Having read thousands of research articles explaining the benefits of everyone wearing a mask, he added: "We all need to be wearing masks, that much is clear, but we don’t have them. So we should make them."

Simon waited for a similar response to happen in the UK but when it didn't, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

He tested numerous mask designs and even created a guide to making one, as well as how to clean and use it.

All masks should be changed regularly, he said, adding: "In medical roles they stop and discard every two hours."

As a result, his site states all masks must be sanitized and bagged before being given away.

The engineer is now encouraging people to do likewise and either create masks for themselves or to give to others.

"I believe this power of the community is what can save the UK and our NHS," he adds.

To find out more about the campaign click here.

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