HEALTH and social care bosses have been charged with overcoming the taboo surrounding breastfeeding in Darlington to ensure children are given the best start in life.

The findings of a two-year study were handed over to Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Darlington Partnership as the community aims to become a breastfeeding friendly town.

Research shows that breastfeeding has major health benefits for babies and their mothers.

It reduces gastro-intestinal problems in children, which currently cost the nation £35m a year to treat.

It reduces asthma and obesity in childhood. Children grow taller, are thinner and have lower cholesterol levels.

In mothers, it reduces the incidence of breast and ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.

But in Darlington, a bottlefeeding culture prevails, with just 52 per cent of mothers breastfeeding, which drops to 37 per cent after two weeks, well below the national average of 71 per cent and 59 per cent respectively.

In some parts of town, the figures drop off to 16 per cent after eight weeks.

An official report by Darlington Borough Council's social affairs and health scrutiny committee includes 16 recommendations.

These include:

l Dissuading mothers from using formula milk

l Including the benefits of breastfeeding in school health education

l Promoting it in areas of low skill and educational attainment

l Health professionals promoting breastfeeding regardless of which part of Darlington they live

l Addressing the issue at work

l Training managers in the public, private and voluntary sectors

l Ensuring council buildings have breastfeeding facilities

l Encouraging employers to have breastfeeding friendly human resources policies

Chairman of the council's social affairs and health scrutiny committee, Marian Swift, said: "Darlington being a breastfeeding-friendly town will now go from strength to strength, because children and mother deserve the best."

Chief executive of Darlington Partnership, Steve Rose, said: "Breastfeeding is something that isn't talked about enough.

"It's an issue that isn't popular and is giggled at, particularly by men. A change of attitude is needed to give our children the best possible start to life."

Darlington mother-of-two, Debbie Lawrence, was involved in the review.

She said: "In a short space of time I am starting to notice a difference as a breastfeeding mum in Darlington.

"People need to know that it is okay to breastfeed and the more people that do it the more acceptable it will become."