A Somerset care company has issued its staff with full face visors to stop coronavirus spreading.

Bluebell Care provides care to the elderly, with all of its patients being treated in their own homes.

The company – which has patients in Frome and across Mendip – said the move would reduce the risk of infection between carer and customer, while still allowing carers to travel to different locations.

Registered manager Jemma LeGrevese said: "We need to be able to continue our vital work, whilst providing customers with the re-assurance that we are doing everything possible to protect them from the virus.

"Wearing a full face visor does present some challenges, but we believe the protective physical barrier it creates is well worth the effort."

Staff have also been issued with digital thermometers so people with high temperatures can be identified.

Any member of staff with a high temperature will immediately self-isolate.

Staff have further adopted "a strict routine of social distancing" and are washing their hands and forearms with high-strength disinfecting at the start and end of every visit.

Managing director Ross Perkins said: "We fully understand that the current situation is extremely worrying for our customers. It is absolutely vital that our visits to people at home do not increase the risk of infection."

"The measures we have put in place are all aimed at providing our customers with confidence and re-assurance that importance of keeping all our staff well and creating a shield between our customers and the outside world.

"These measures will enable us to continue to deliver our services to our customers across Somerset and Dorset."

Mr Perkins said the biggest issue would come if schools close – since a large proportion of his staff have school-age children.

He said he was working on a solution to this, possibly involving turning the company's office conference room into an area where carers can bring their children.

He added: "We will continue to follow all government advice and will introduce further measures that we feel could further increase our customers' safety."