Businesses are being urged to donate spare personal protective equipment for use by healthcare workers as demand outstrips supply.

Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership's business and economic response and recovery group is appealing to firms to donate any PPE they do not need.

The PPE will be issued to medical and social care facilities across Cumbria, with collection available if needed.

Jo Lappin, who is the group's chair and Cumbria LEP’s chief executive, said it had received a number of donations since it first made the appeal last week.

“However, currently donations are not keeping pace with demand," she said.

“We’re very grateful to the organisations that have offered their PPE to protect our healthcare workers.

"We have been delighted by the response, and are very appreciative of the businesses that are going out of their way to help.

"We welcome donations of any personal protective equipment but would particularly welcome moisture repellent face masks, which are desperately needed.

“Your donation really can help to protect our most vulnerable citizens and our most precious assets – our health and social care workers.”

Any businesses that have equipment to donate can get in touch to offer their help by going to www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/V9L9DT2