British-made gas masks could help Ukraine soldiers

Ukraine leaders have called for more gas masks to be sent to their country

A former army commander says gas masks made in Britain could help Ukrainians defend their country.

Avon Protection, in Melksham, Wiltshire, makes "world-leading" masks, which are being requested by the Ukrainian government as it is alleged chemical weapons are being used against them.

Ukraine has asked for 90,000 more masks from allies - and the company makes around 500,000 masks each year at its sites in Wiltshire and US.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said it has sent 8,500 gas masks since 2022 and regularly talks to Ukraine on "how equipment can best meet their needs".

Steve Elwell - the president at Avon Protection - said they can make more if asked to.

President of the company, Steve Elwell, said the FM50 model is "world-leading" and about 4 million are sold annually across the globe.

"A typical tactic might be to use something like CS (tear) gas to draw troops out of their foxholes.

"With a gas mask, you don't have to exit that foxhole, you don't have to put yourself in the line of fire," he explained.

Former army commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon said there have been thousands of chemical weapon attacks

Former army chemical weapons commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon said "it's obvious they [Ukrainians] need decent gas masks".

"Some units I speak to are being hit two or three times a day.

"The masks they [Ukrainians] have at the moment are old Soviet ones and the filters don’t work," he added.