The UK’s largest home fragrance company has announced it has begun production of hand and surface sanitisers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Wax Lyrical, based in Lindal, near Ulverston, has revealed it has started manufacturing hand and surface sanitisers from its factory in Cumbria.

The factory conventionally manufactures luxury fragranced products and exports to more than 40 countries around the world.

However, it is now producing hand and surface sanitisers in a bid to respond to the growing demand for sanitising products due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The factory announced it would supply the sanitiser products to the NHS, care homes, hospices and pharmacies, starting with the local communities in Cumbria and Lancashire.

It would then make the sanitising products available to the public.

In a statement issued online, the company said: "We’re happy to let you know that today we have begun production of hand and surface sanitisers, from our factory in Cumbria.

"Over the past week our lab has sought industry expertise to create a 65 per cent alcohol formula (which of course has a lovely fragrance too) and we’re able to utilise our liquid home fragrance production lines to make this in our factory.

"Our priority is to supply the sanitiser products to the National Health Service, care homes, hospices and pharmacies, starting with our local communities in Cumbria and Lancashire; further supply will then be available to the public."

The announcement comes after fellow Ulverston-based gin business, Shed One, revealed it would also begin manufacturing hand sanitising products.