A pioneering and controversial midwife-run maternity unit goes live a week today.

But bosses at Bishop Auckland General Hospital say the new, less high-tech approach to giving birth is proving a hit with local women.

When plans were announced to strip the Bishop Auckland maternity unit of 24 hour medical cover two years ago there was an outcry.

The move was a consequence of national plans to reduce working hours for doctors and ensure medical students get the full range of experience they need.

Under the new system - which becomes effective from noon next Saturday May 8 - women from the Bishop Auckland catchment area, which includes much of Weardale who are expected to have straightforward births are being encouraged to have their babies in the new midwifery-led unit.

Women who run the risk of complications are being booked in at Darlington Memorial Hospital, where a full 24 hour range of medical services will remain available.

Women can still opt for the more medical environment at Darlington.

The proposals are being seen as a model for other maternity units in the North-East.

At the time of the announcement a petition was organised and angry women packed public meetings.

But officials at the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals Trust now say that more than 50 per cent of women due to give birth have opted for the new midwife-run unit.

Debbie Bunford, head of midwifery at the County Durham trust, said: "We are delighted at the way the bookings have gone in the run up to the change-over. About 55 per cent of women have opted for the midwifery-led unit."

Mrs Bunford stressed that research supports the view that the safest place to have an uncomplicated birth was in a midwifery-led unit.

"The safety record for this kind of unit is superb. If you screen people the chances of complication in labour is rare," she added.

Dummy runs to test emergency transfer arrangements to Darlington had worked well with a "bed-to-bed" time of only 30 minutes, she added. "It would take at least 30 minutes to prepare a theatre at Darlington anyway," she added.

The Bishop Auckland unit has been made more homely with ensuite bathrooms and sofabeds for partners.