The all but lost cloth-making industry of Nailsworth can be traced back to the 14th Century but in the past six weeks, a cottage industry has sprung into life with sewing machines whirring back into action.

Nailsworth Chamber of Trade and Commerce has been very busy during the virus crisis, running the Nailsworth Scrub Hub, PPE for Heroes and Nailsworth Food Hub.

In its first six weeks, Nailsworth Scrub Hub delivered 130 full sets of scrubs, 1200 plastic, 3D printed visors, 267 re-useable cloth masks, with orders for 340 more, 38 plastic surgical gowns, fashioned out of shower curtains, three surgical hats, marked each piece of PPE with an official ‘Nailsworth Scrub Hub’ logo for quality and traceability, and provided clear health and safety guidance for usage and cleaning of all products.

The chamber has also been supplying up to 500 free meals every week, cooked by chefs including Ben Sibbald from Ben’s Kitchen in Tetbury, and Richard Davies and team from Calcot Manor.

As well as this, members have delivered to people in self-isolation, NHS workers, as well as to police and firefighters.

A spokeswoman for the chamber said: "While the majority of our members have been unable to trade normally during this time, we have instead been supporting them and the community by setting up food hubs, delivering nutritious frozen meals to NHS and key workers, as well as to the vulnerable in our area.

"We have a team of community volunteers working from their own homes, as sewers, pattern cutters, 3D printers and assemblers to manufacture PPE for front-line workers, including local doctors’ surgeries and care homes to plug a big gap in the supply chain.

"We have also been running Nailsworth Farmers’ Market throughout the crisis through a socially-distanced, click-and-collect system, and been helping traders to obtain grants."

On Saturday, June 27, Nailsworth farmers' market will reopen the town centre, with 20 stalls, following government safety guidelines.