A THOUGHTFUL lady has raised almost £1,000 for the foodbank from selling home-made face masks.

Karen Maitland, 58, came up with the idea at the start of lockdown - and ended up selling 188 coverings.

The retired technical editor for a computer software company was looking for something to do and said she wanted to help a local charity.

Karen, of Kilmacolm, said: "Lockdown was hard.

"It was tough not being in contact with anybody.

"At the start I was very grateful for the little things.

"I am fortunate I don't have to worry, I can afford to buy food but I know many people may have lost their jobs and are struggling.

"I thought donating to the foodbank was a good idea and it was around the time that Captain Tom Moore was raising funds for the NHS.

"It was very inspirational, I really felt that I wanted to help a local charity so I knew where the money was going."

Karen dusted down her sewing machine and started making face masks as she knew they were something everyone would eventually need.

She pitched the idea as 'Facemasks for a fiver' and the enterprise soon snowballed from there.

She said: "I asked my friends if they would be interested and they were, then I asked my Yoga class on Whatsapp and I sold 50 to them.

"I also put them in the local newsagents who were happy to sell them for me."

Karen moved to Scotland 15 years ago from California.

She hails from Colorado and has spent the last 14 years living in Kilmacolm.

She said: "It is a lovely village.

"We are so lucky that we have so many lovely walks we could do during the lockdown, I have at least eight different walks I can do.

"This was especially important when so many people living in flats couldn't get access to green space."

Karen handed over £940 to the foodbank as a thank-you to them for providing such an important service during difficult times.

She said: "I'm glad I was able to help out a bit."

Lesley Jackson, foodbank manager, has described Karen's work as a 'tremendous undertaking'.

She added: "We thank her for helping us support those most in need in our community."