A MUSIC teacher has hit the high notes during the Covid-19 crisis by using her spare time to help key workers.

Nicola Presavage, from Haddington, an instrumental co-ordinator in music percussion at Loretto School, Musselburgh, is on furlough leave.

For the past three weeks, she has been making face masks and headbands, free of charge, for nurses, care home workers, shop assistants, cleaners and even an offshore medic!

The headbands are for people who find wearing face masks on their ears uncomfortable, with more than 80 already distributed.

They work by looping the elastic or ties from masks around the button of the headband instead of around the ears. The buttons are in a position just behind the ear.

Mrs Presavage has also issued 220 washable cloth-made face masks to recipients.

Most of the masks and headbands have been collected from her house and, in keeping with social distancing, she has clipped them to her fence in sealed bags for people to collect. She has also posted out some orders.

Many people in the community have been supporting the initiative by dropping off spare fabric or buttons they had at home.

Mrs Presavage said: “Hearing tales from key workers dealing with all of this from the frontline is quite harrowing and puts everything into perspective.”

She added: “I originally put a post on Facebook and asked for anyone looking for one to get in touch. As long as I am on furlough I am happy to keep making them. Elastic is becoming more difficult to source though.”

Her initiative has taken off, so she is now requesting £2.50 per mask to cover the cost of materials after running out of her original supply of fabric.

She isn’t taking any more orders at the moment due to a backlog but is hoping to do so again soon.

A Loretto School spokesperson added: “Her contribution to helping those on the frontline is amazing – we’re so proud.”

Mrs Presavage can be contacted via the Haddington Community Council Facebook page.