SCHOOLCHILDREN in Darlington have been learning about the benefits of breastfeeding with the help of a mother and her baby.

Kelly Henley, and her six-week-old daughter, Katherine, joined Darlington Primary Care Trust and staff from the Memorial Hospital for a lesson at Carmel RC Technology College.

Twenty pupils, aged 14 and 15, took part in the lesson, which was part of their GNVQ Child Development course.

Mrs Henley said: "The breastfeeding is going really well. I decided to try because of the benefits to me and the baby. It is also a lot more convenient and you can feed anywhere any time."

Health visitor Kath Lane said: "It is important to get the message over as early as possible.

"The benefits of breastfeeding to both mothers and children are enormous so this is an important lesson."

She said breast-fed babies suffered fewer health problems, including less diarrhoea, vomiting and gastroenteritis.

Research had also proved that they were six times less likely to need a hospital stay, suffered fewer chest infections, had lower blood pressures and less body fat and developed fewer ear and urinary tract infections.

Darlington is involved in a health initiative, which aims to make many parts of the town centre breastfeeding-friendly zones.