The owners of a Masham-based distillery are desperately appealing for additional bottle producers and suppliers to contact them, as demand for the hand sanitiser they are making increases on an almost hourly basis.

Spirit of Masham, which turned to hand sanitiser production to help meet the shortfall in supply of the product for people working in the front-line services, has orders from North Yorkshire County Council, the NHS, local GP practices, hauliers and others who need to sanitise their hands on a regular basis.

However, Derek Harle, who is producing the hand sanitiser along with his wife Carol, told the Stray Ferret: “We have the product produced to the 80%  abv alcohol formulation recommended by the World Health Organisation, but just can’t get enough of the trigger-action and pump-action refillable bottles to meet the demand. It is so frustrating.”

He is conscious of the fact that some people have been attempting to profiteer, by buying bulk amounts of hand sanitiser and selling it on at a marked-up price. He added: “To counter this, we have put a recommended retail price of £4.95 per 100 ml bottle, each of which is bar coded and has a batch number on it.”

He and his wife, who have been working flat out on production, are determined to ensure that the bottles end up in and on the hands of those who need them most.

In addition to the 100 ml bottles, Spirit of Masham is supplying the sanitiser in five litre containers, which means that organisations such as hospital wards or GP practices are able to refill the smaller bottles that they give out to their employees.

Mr Harle can be contacted on 01765 688500.

The army has started work to convert part of the Harrogate Convention Centre into a ‘Nightingale’ hospital.

NHS and army staff are both on-site today as the basic building blocks were being delivered to create what the NHS refer to as a “surge” hospital move into place.

When it is up and running, which could be possible over the next week, it will help the NHS deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Although the NHS has not yet revealed full details about the project, an announcement is expected imminently.

Three temporary ‘Nightingale’ hospitals have already been announced – in London, Manchester and Birmingham – with more understood to be in the planning stages.

So far, three patients with coronavirus have died at Harrogate District Hospital, while the number of confirmed cases in North Yorkshire is now at 108.

Olivia Grigoras is a Maternity Support Worker at Harrogate Hospital. She told the Stray Ferret that she was ‘In tears’ last night when she heard the applause and cheers for healthcare workers on the street outside her house. She then had an ‘even more tearful’ experience this morning, when she woke up to a lovely surprise from her 6 year old daughter, Iris.

Harrogate Borough Council has scrapped all fees at its off-street car parks to help NHS staff and other key workers.

In Harrogate, it will mean that it is now free to park at West Park Long Stay Multi-Storey, Victoria and Jubilee car parks.

But there are over 33 car parks across the Harrogate district which will all be affected by the move.

The council has warned motorists to still follow parking restrictions to ensure they do not create a hazard.

It comes as the Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust scrapped parking fees for its staff.

The government will cover the cost of scrapping parking fees after a petition calling for the move reached over 400,000 signatures.

However, with a surge of volunteers signing up to help at hospitals there were fears that there would not be enough car parking spaces.

This move to scrap off-street parking charges should help relieve some pressure on hospital car parks but government ministers have also called on some private parking firms to follow suit.

At 8pm last night people from all over the Harrogate district took part in a nationwide “Clap for Carers” tribute, saluting NHS and care workers dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. People from all over the district have sent us videos of their applause. A message from the NHS on social media described the tribute as ’emotional’.

All NHS staff working at Harrogate District Hospital will be able to park their cars for free during the coronavirus pandemic.

The government will cover the cost after a petition calling for the move reached over 400,000 signatures.

It also comes after some private firms decided to waive fees for NHS staff, who can pay up to £1,300 a year to park according to the GMB union.

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said: “I will do everything I can to ensure our dedicated staff have whatever they need.

“So we will provide free car parking for our NHS staff who are going above and beyond every day in hospitals across England.”

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust sent out a message to staff before the announcement to say that parking charges would be scrapped.

With a surge of volunteers signing up to help at hospitals, they will be able to use council parking bays for free.

They just need to display evidence of their role in their windscreen to avoid a ticket.

Ministers are also urging all businesses near hospitals to work with their local NHS Trusts to consider allowing NHS staff to use their car parks.