A Warrington Wolves star has congratulated dozens of members of staff on securing permanent roles at a PPE firm.

Prop forward Chris Hill swapped his mouth guard for a face mask and presented Alpha Solway in Golborne with a signed shirt to mark the recruitment milestone.

The company, which is part of Globus Group and one of leading providers of PPE, took on 30 permanent employees to help with their contracts with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS Scotland to manufacture respirators for frontline NHS workers battling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Helen Dawson, head of people at Globus Group, said: “We are so proud of the rate at which we have been able to manufacture and provide vital PPE to frontline NHS workers such as face masks and visors.

“This has enabled us to create crucial new job opportunities in the north west at a time of economic crisis.

“It’s so important for us to be engaged with the local community, which is the approach we’ve taken with our Stonecross site in Golborne.

“Of course, it's a bonus to be supported by local talent too and we will display our signed shirt with pride.”

Chris Hill, England and Great Britain international, said: “It was a pleasure to pay a visit to Alpha Solway to celebrate the permanent recruits at their factory.

“Helen and the team are really working hard to not only provide vital PPE to those who need it, but through what they are doing they are creating new jobs and opportunities in the local area which is something I’m proud to support.”

With an overall investment of around £70million in the UK, Globus Group launched five new manufacturing facilities, with the Golborne site becoming a key location.

The company recruited more than 340 people in the north west and is now on track to hire more than 1,000 new employees by the end of the year.

At full capacity, the business will produce one billion medical masks and 300 million FFP respirators per annum.