A North Yorkshire company has joined the battle against coronavirus by producing its own range of hand sanitising rub.

Thirsk-based manufacturer Cod Beck Blenders, which began producing hand sanitiser during lockdown on behalf of clients, has joined forces with infection prevention specialist Hampton Healthcare to launch the CoClens alcohol-based hand rub.

Made to a World Health Organisation formulation the product also includes a hard surface disinfectant spray with the 70 per cent alcohol based hand rub killing 99,9 per cent of bacteria. The firm employs 100 staff at its eight acre site, last year processing 27,000 tonnes of material for a wide range of uses.

"We began manufacturing hand sanitiser early in the pandemic and have since produced literally thousands of litres for some of the leading names in the UK hygiene sector," said managing director Steve Meyer. "With demand continuing, we have now partnered with Hampton Healthcare, which has 25 years of combined infection prevention knowledge, to offer our CoClens range.

"Bringing together their specialist technical expertise with our skills in the manufacture of complex products and the benefits of our flexible production facility, is a great fit. We have begun production initially focusing on the healthcare and life science sector, before rolling out the hand sanitising rub more widely."

The partners say they are now working to develop other new products.