A SCHOOL has answered a call to arms to protect NHS staff on the frontline in the battle against covid-19.

Bolton School junior boys' school has two 3D printers working 24/7 to produce as many visor headbands as possible for the NHS.

The headbands are being produced as part of a national effort in conjunction with the National 3D Printing Society.

The school is the latest in Bolton to use its cutting-edge technology to help provide PPE ­— personal protective equipment ­— for medical teams in the borough and further afield.

The Bolton News recently reported how Ladybridge School used its technology suite to make face visors for medics and carers using 3D technology ­— with a batch distributed to the Royal Bolton Hospital and Fairfield Hospital in Bury, as well as GP surgeries locally and throughout Greater Manchester.

Aaron Winstanley, who is overseeing the project at Bolton School, said: “The head bands are a design that has been approved by the NHS and is currently the best design for this single use PPE that the NHS is so desperately short of.

"One of our machines, with the approved settings, takes 1 hour 11 minutes to print a headband.

“We do hope to be involved with the visor front production once this side of the manufacture process advances.”

It is hoped when society returns to normal the National 3D Printing Society, will hopefully visit the school to talk to pupils about additive manufacture.

Schools throughout Bolton have donated science goggles to give to NHS staff to protect them when they are treating patients with Covid-19.

Rivington and Blackrod High School coordinated the collection of goggles from all secondary schools in Bolton.

They were donated to Bolton NHS Foundation Trust to be distributed to those working in Royal Bolton Hospital.

Primary schools took part too, with Beaumont Primary School donating 15 pairs alone.