The group, which is also building a plant in Germany, expects to produce one million bottles per month, meeting the needs of front line medical and care services, as well as making pocket bottle hand sanitisers for personal use.

The company will also supply hospitals, schools, places of work, pharmacies and supermarkets, with the aim of tackling the critical shortage of hand sanitisers across Europe.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, founder and chairman of INEOS, said: “It is becoming increasingly clear that hand to mouth infection is a significant cause of coronavirus contagion and INEOS is Europe’s largest manufacturer of the core ingredient of hand sanitiser.

“We will build two factories in the UK and Germany in ten days to produce very substantial supplies.

“INEOS is a company with enormous resources and manufacturing skills. If we can find other ways to help in the coronavirus battle, we are absolutely committed to playing our part.”

Henri Murison, director of Northern Powerhouse Partnership, added: “Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his colleagues action to construct the Middlesbrough facility in 10 days is true leadership, and communities and the nation should recognise their action in the national interest.”