A GROUP of mothers has become the first on Teesside to qualify as breast feeding supporters under a new health project.

The nine women, from east Cleveland, have completed the peer supporters programme, designed to increase the number of women who breast feed their babies.

The ten-week course is run by the Health Action Zone. The health benefits for breast feeding babies is well-documented.

Women with experience of feeding their babies meet new mothers to pass on advice and encouragement.

Although half of new mothers begin breast feeding their babies from birth, east Cleveland is being targeted because only 20 per cent are still doing so after six weeks.

This compares with the national average of 45 per cent.

Ann Holt, infant feeding advisor at Middlesbrough's South Cleveland Hospital, said: "This programme fills in the gap after women leave hospital, where they have support and advice on breast feeding, and come back home, where they may experience difficulties and be reluctant to seek advice from health professionals.

"Mothers can now receive encouragement and support from within their community from a friend or a neighbour, and we believe this will bring about a significant increase in the numbers of women who continue to breast feed."

A second group of volunteer mothers is due to begin the course, which is supported by South Tees Acute Hospitals Trust and Sure Start, the national family support project