A CALENDAR highlighting Breast Feeding Awareness Week is to be launched today by Sedgefield Borough Council's Sure Start scheme.

The scheme's members for the Ferryhill and Chilton areas appear in the 18-month calendar at a time when a nationwide campaign has been launched to encourage more women to breastfeed, particularly those under 25.

The calendar will be issued to every pregnant woman in Ferryhill and Chilton.

A recent National Childbirth Trust poll of nearly 7,000 mothers showed that more than half felt uncomfortable or self-conscious about breastfeeding in a public place.

Midwife Sally Trotter, of Sure Start Ferryhill and Chilton, said: "We believe this is the perfect way to promote and increase breastfeeding awareness to pregnant mothers in our area."