AN EAST LANCASHIRE company known for its children’s bath-time, playtime and educational products has switched to making hand sanitiser.

Zimpli Kids is supplying the sanitiser to NHS foundation trusts across the country as it does its bit to help limit the coronavirus outbreak.

Zimpli Kids, of Greenbank Business Park, Gladstone Street, Blackburn, makes bath products including Gelli Baff and Slime Baff. These two best-selling products have more than seven billion views on YouTube from independent reviewers worldwide.

Demand for hand sanitiser has resulted in a global shortage, so the firm quickly switched to making 60ml bottles of minimum 70 per cent alcohol-based hand sanitiser. The minimum alcohol content that is required to kill coronavirus is 60 per cent.

In their bid to ensure the NHS has what it needs, the company has been hand-delivering some stock.

A company spokesman said it was a very difficult decision for the company to switch production, as they did not want to be accused of profiting from the crisis.

The spokesman said the bulk price for hand sanitiser liquid is 10 times what it was three months ago and UK-sourced plastic bottles are three- to four-times the usual price.

The company said it is doing everything it can to meet orders, but it is constantly ‘behind the curve’ in terms of demand.

Sales director Eejay Enyi said: “We are currently supplying UK made hand sanitiser but the supply is both sporadic and expensive. We have stock on the floor today but we have no guarantees for next week.”

Zimpli Kids is working with its factory in China, which has made its bath bombs for more than five years and also makes hand sanitiser. The 70 per cent alcohol hand sanitiser is said to have prices much lower than the UK stock - 500ml bottles from China are less than £2 whereas a 60ml bottle from the UK costs more than £2.

The spokesman added: “The whole world is looking for this product and everyone is aware of the current huge demand.

“Coronavirus is unfortunately going to be around for months and alcohol-based hand sanitiser is needed in the UK now. It will both save lives and help to stop the spread of this terrible virus.”

Bottles of 60ml hand sanitiser can be purchased by emailing sales@ZimpliKids.com