AN INSPIRING mother has rallied up support to create pillowcase laundry bags for NHS frontline staff during the coronavirus outbreak.

Pam Marlow from Maple Drive in Crowthorne appealed for the public's help in sewing the bags after hearing stories from her daughter-in-laws sister who works at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.

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The idea of the bags is so after work, NHS staff can put their uniform straight into the bag and into the washing machine, to avoid possibly contaminating anything at home.

She said she feels "humbled" by the support of her grandchildren Ben Woodsy and Ashleigh Abbot for delivering bags to local sewers, Tom at Playhouse Drycleaners for washing the pillowcases for free, The Range for donating 20 rolls of ribbon and Darren Latimer, Wokingham Without Parish Councillor, who helped spread Pam's message to hundreds of people online.

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The 74-year-old said: "Thank you so much to everyone who has helped as it has fuelled me to carry on. I have had so many people offering to help sew pillow cases.

"Last year, my husband David died due to acute heart failure and I cannot thank and praise the heart clinic nurses enough for helping to keep him alive. My family owe a great debt to them as they were just such lovely, lovely people. I suppose this is just my little way of saying thank you to them."

Pam said her daughter-in-law's sister Rebecca Reid got in touch after struggling to dispose of her uniform safely at home.

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She added: "On Good Friday, my grandson Ben and Ashley delivered 92 pillow cases to Rebecca. They said she 'burst into tears' and the nurses were so happy to receive them. Some of the nurses even sent me a message to say thank you.

"It's just a great feeling to do something positive in this horrible situation. I'd rather not have to be making them but if something as small as this helps them then that's wonderful."

Her daughter Jo Abbot said: "I would like to add my thanks to my mum, we always knew you were amazing strong woman but you are truly one in a million."

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Pam also wants to thank her neighbours Carol, Beryl and Jean and her 'new sewing army Darlene, Margaret, Irma, Diane, Carol, Marion and Kay.

On Sunday night, 74 cases were delivered to to Royal Berkshire Hospital.

So far, Pam said 200 pillow cases have been made into laundry bags with a further 100 expected to be made and delivered by the end of this week.