Midwives from Wantage's Maternity Unit have been highlighting the importance of breast-feeding.

As part of a national week of raising awareness about the issue, they are visiting shops and businesses in the town asking if they will agree to display 'breast-feeding welcome' stickers to show women they are baby-friendly.

So far, Boots, Bakers Oven, Walton Clothing, Arbery's Tearooms, the Vale and Downland Museum, the Cancer Research shop, Cornucopia coffee shop and the Civic Centre have come on board.

Staff at the maternity unit, which is based in Wantage's community hospital, are also keen to increase the number of women who breast feed until their baby is six months old.

The unit achieves rates well above the average, with 85 per cent breast-feeding by the time they are discharged, compared with 55 per cent nationally.