A MIDWIFE is helping mums and pregnant women take the plunge as part of a community scheme.

Sheryl O'Lone and her colleague Margaret Hayton, both members of the Priory midwife team, based at Guisborough Hospital's maternity unit, are setting up eight Monday morning aqua-natal sessions.

Starting next week the sessions have been arranged by Sure Start East Cleveland, the Government-backed initiative aimed at giving children under four and their families a healthy start.

They will take place at Loftus Leisure Centre, from 10am until 11am, and are free to anyone living in the Sure Start areas of Loftus, Carlin How, Skinningrove and Easington.

Julie Conner, a Sure Start manager, said: "Part of the Sure Start programme is to bring new activities into the area to help young mums. This was Sheryl's idea to give babies a sure start."