Bradford Council is welcoming breastfeeding mums at all its 19 sports centres and swimming pools.

The Sport and Leisure Service is supporting Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust's (tPCT) campaign to encourage more mothers to breastfeed in public by providing support at its facilities.

The tPCT has started a scheme called Breastfeeding Welcome Here after figures show breastfeeding rates in Britain are amongst the lowest in Europe, with 78 per cent of babies being given their mother's milk.

And the figure is even lower in the Bradford district at 63 per cent.

Breast milk provides all the essential nutrients babies needs for healthy development and also gives babies long-term health advantages such as protection against infections and less risk of obesity or diabetes.

Steve Warner, head of sport and leisure at Bradford Council, said: "I am very aware that breastfeeding has many health benefits for mums and babies alike which is why we are delighted to be supporting the tPCT with this very important initiative.

"The current breastfeeding rates in our district are alarmingly low so I hope that by making our pools and sports centres breastfeeding-friendly we can contribute in some way to addressing this concern."

Bradford and Airedale tPCT breastfeeding co-ordinator, Janette Westman, said: "Many new mums in Bradford start breastfeeding but quickly stop. This is often because they feel there is a lack of support, particularly when they want to feed their baby away from home.

"The Breastfeeding Welcome Here' scheme is helping to create a culture in which breastfeeding is seen as an acceptable thing to do whether you are out shopping, in the library, at a cafe, in the park or on the bus.

"Businesses who support the scheme will be helping to protect the health of mother and babies in the local community and by making life easier for mums, they show they care about customers.

"This will encourage them to come back in the future, which is good news for mums, babies and businesses."

Organisations wanting to sign-up to show they welcome breastfeeding should call Janette Westman on (01274) 364583. They will receive a window sticker and a certificate to demonstrate their support.