CRAFTY seamstresses have turned their talents to making face coverings to sell for charity raising £2,350 for Alzheimer’s Support.

Lesley Smith, a support worker at the charity’s Old Silk Works in Warminster, and Sarah Bogert, mother of a volunteer at its Sidmouth Street Club in Devizes, independently decided to make the cloth masks and donations.

Spending two weeks hunched over a sewing machine, Lesley worked from 9 to 5 and ended each day with an aching back, but the result of her efforts was 500 masks and £1,350.

Old Silk Works manager Louise Gover and her daughter Beth helped, while socially distancing, cutting out the fabric ready for Lesley to stitch. Club volunteers helped with local deliveries.

Louise said: “Lesley is a big character with a big heart and she wanted to feel like she was giving something back.

"We’ve had big orders and individual ones, both locally and from as far away as the West Midlands and even Scotland.”

Meanwhile, in Devizes Sarah Bogert was inspired to make the masks because her daughter, medical student Emma Bogert, volunteered at the charity’s Sidmouth Street Club.

Sarah’s hard work raised £1,000 and she made around 300 masks.

Both Lesley and Sarah have now unplugged their machines and are having a well-earned rest.

Alzheimer’s Support chief executive officer, Babs Harris said: “We were very touched when we heard what Lesley and Sarah had decided to do to support our charity.

"They are both absolute legends and sewers extraordinaire. We are so grateful to them and also to everyone who bought a mask.”