AS THE use of cloth face coverings is set to become more widespread, there is a worry the most vulnerable in society might find masks too intimidating.

But a woman from Salisbury has found a way to tackle this while making sure safety is guaranteed.

Sonia Carley, a member of Salisbury Makers Hub, was inspired to make lip-reading masks after seeing a request on the Facebook group.

Having never sewn before, the 44-year-old engineering geologist, whose work has temporarily been halted, decided to give it a go.

"As an engineer I just had the time, there's so much need for it and they look so much better so I borrowed somebody's sewing machine and taught myself to sew," she said.

Although learning a new skill was "quite difficult", Sonia managed to produce reusable lip-reading masks from her home in Devizes Road, by using old duvet covers and plastic, clear table cloths that she ordered online.

Thanks to the help of fellow sewers, she has now made around 40 masks. However, as many more are needed and each mask can take up to an hour to make, she is appealing for more people to try their hand at it.

She said: "I haven't really stopped, today I did 2,5 miles walking around my own house.

"At the moment I've got 150 due to go out, [some are] for Wiltshire Portage who visit the homes of children with educational needs, a couple of additional needs schools also want them and individuals as well."

Although she admits "they are a pain to make", see-through masks make a "massive difference" to some of the most vulnerable.

"For deaf people it's a massive difference because lip-reading is a massive part of their communication and a lot of hearing people don't know sign language.

"With everybody having their face half covered you can't judge people's facial expressions so, especially with children and the elderly, [having this mask] is less of a barrier, there's less of a stigma attached to it."

Anyone who wants to help Sonia can access instructions on how to make masks on the Salisbury Makers Hub Facebook group or visit https://bit.ly/3fLcnfE to make a donation, which will go towards covering the cost of materials.