A drop-in caf for new mums has been opened in Bradford in an attempt to bolster poor rates of breast feeding in the city.

Breast feeding offers babies the best start in life and also protects the mother's health, but despite this the number of mums breast feeding in Bradford is well below the national average.

Only 45 per cent of mothers in Bradford start breast feeding in hospital compared to a national average of 70 per cent.

This figures plummets even further to 33 per cent by the time mums take their babies home.

Bradford health visitor and breast feeding counsellor, Sandy Monro, said: "It's well known that mothers living in deprived areas and those not getting support and proper advice are less likely to start breast feeding or continue it."

In a bid to encourage more new mums in Bradford to breast feed, Bradford South and West Primary Care Trust (PCT) has opened a new Baby Caf, which will be run by health visitors and supported by Bradford SureStart, the organisation which helps children under five get the best start in life.

The caf, at Bowling Hall Medical Centre in Rooley Lane, will give support and advice to mums about any aspect of breast feeding.

It will also be open to pregnant women who are interested in breast feeding. It is open every Tuesday from 10.30 am to noon.

Mrs Monro said: "The baby caf is a great idea because it provides a friendly, relaxed atmosphere for mums to meet each other and get the right help to encourage them to breast feed their babies."

The caf will offer women a change to relax, feed their babies, meet other mums and get advice and support from midwives and health visitors.

There is a library of books and videos on breast feeding for mums to take away and look at in their own time.

The benefits to babies include: Protection against diarrhoea, gastro-enteritis and tummy upsets; less chance of cot death; better mental development and protection against allergies.

Benefits to mothers include: A lower risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer; a faster return to pre-pregnancy figure; lower risk of ovarian cancer and stronger bones.