BIG-HEARTED shipyard workers have launched a bid to help health workers on the frontline fighting coronavirus.

Staff from Ferguson Marine have donated vital personal protection equipment to Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Employee Kirsty Graham started the ball rolling after seeing appeals for PPE, especially of the type of visors used in her workplace.

Sharon Coyle, head of HR for the firm, said: "Kirsty wondered if we should do something about donating to the local hospital.

"Myself and Davie Thomas, head of production, contacted Sandy Malcomson, who works as a porter in the hospital and he said they would be very grateful to receive what we have.

"We managed to take 20 headbands and visors, 160 face masks, 25 coveralls and copious boxes of gloves from our stores and took them to Inverclyde Royal and Davie handed over the donation to Sandy."

Nursing bosses were swift to praise the kind donation and sent a letter thanking the staff at Ferguson.

Karen Farrell, senior charge nurse for theatres, wrote: 'I am one of the theatre sisters from Inverclyde Royal and I would like to thank you and your company for the very kind donation of PPE. 'That was so unexpected and very much appreciated.

'We are all working really hard in a very different environment so are a wee bit stressed, however, receiving this donation has made a huge difference to us, so thank-you from the bottom of our hearts.

'It’s wonderful, at a time like this, how local businesses and people are pulling together.'

Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan has praised the yard for stepping in and said it was a way for them to give back to the community for the support they have received in recent years.

He told the Telegraph: “I welcome the decision by the yard to be proactive to help the local community.

“This is a perfect example of the yard working to help the community and showing its support for Inverclyde when the community has supported it.

“Well done everyone at Ferguson Marine for this excellent gesture.”