A project has been launched in Bath and North East Somerset to ensure every resident, business, school and organisation can purchase face masks at an affordable rate.

With society, and the way we interact with each other, changing radically, wearing face masks in public is now part of the ‘new norm’.

Peasedown St John Community Library is the first organisation to sign up to the scheme. Over the last 10 days, 300 masks have been sold to residents in the village.

Library Operations Manager, Cllr Karen Walker, said: “Face masks, regular hand washing and keeping a safe distance of at least 2 metres apart, could be regular features of public life for at least the next 12 months.

"All of this though does come at a cost, both financially and socially, which is why we wanted to take part in this new project here in Peasedown St John.

Face masks can be expensive, particularly for people needing to buy 4, 5 or 6 for their families.”

The Library has teamed up with Somerset Face Masks, a supplier of washable, reusable masks. Each mask is just £2.50 each and comes with an elastic strap so ‘one size does fit all!’

SFM Sales Manager, Neera Haria, said: “Our home delivery team is serving Bath and the surrounding villages for the next month. If you’d like to make a purchase, we’ll come to you!

"Our Community Partnership Scheme allows us to work with local organisations who operate as hubs in any given area. It’s thanks to the role that our partners play, like Peasedown Community Library, that our face masks can be sold for just £2.50 each – making them affordable to everyone and anyone!”

Anyone living in Peasedown St John who’d like to buy a face mask should email [email protected]. Readers living anywhere else can get in touch by emailing: [email protected]