A THEATRE nurse who has created hundreds of face masks and raised more than £1,500 for charity has been nominated for a Pride of Britain award.

Debra Newlands has been busy transforming pieces of fabric into comfortable masks since the middle of June.

Each of the masks sold has raised funds for Cancer Research UK, with the grandmother-of-four now shortlisted for an accolade which honours people who have acted bravely or extraordinarily in challenging situations.

Debra, from Haddington, was “amazed that I have been nominated for this and feel extremely fortunate”.

She said: “You know what you are doing is a good thing – as much of it is raising funds for Cancer Research UK.

“It is so important that the masks fit properly and are worn properly.

“They are not medical masks but face coverings and we are telling people this is how you should wear them.

“It is nice that people are raising the money and are coming back and saying they fit well and want some more.

“For people to come back and say they are great and now to be nominated for this award is amazing. People really like them so much and appreciate what you are doing.”

The Acredales Walk resident originally only made the masks for family and friends while off work in June.

However, they proved increasingly popular and now more than 750 masks have been sold.

The 53-year-old’s gran had been a dressmaker in London in the 1930s and Debra picked up a few of the necessary skills along the way, dressmaking when she was a teenager.

However, as time passed, she said she had not really done much sewing – other than fixing curtains or trousers – in the best part of 30 years.

Debra, who works at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, made some masks for friends and family before then coming across the idea of the community masks tree online.

The initiative started in England, with volunteer sewers providing free cloth face coverings to anyone needing one.

Debra told the Courier: “We did a mask tree at home and we made some masks and had the tree and thought it was a really good idea to raise some money for Cancer Research UK.

“We lost a good friend this year at the age of 57 and thought it would be a nice thing to do to raise some money for Cancer Research UK.

“I cannot do a run or anything so thought a mask tree would raise a couple of hundred pounds, which would be really great.”

But the face masks have far surpassed that amount, with about £1,900 being raised for the good cause.

The masks are now on sale at Animal Magic Pet Supplies on Haddington Court Street, and Erica’s on nearby High Street, as well as at MADE in East Lothian on the town’s Hardgate.