A JAMBOREE for parents, their babies and young children will be held to promote a new Witney babies group.

The National Childbirth Trust's district branch said the free event to celebrate the charity's 60th anniversary would be held on Saturday, at Madley Park Hall.

It will feature taster sessions run by local businesses for parents and carers, as well as displays, homemade cakes and a raffle.

Any money raised will go towards a new weekly babies group set to launch on September 6, mum-of-one Olivia Watterson said.

The 29-year-old, from Crawley, added: "Mums and dads can come to meet new people and make friends with other parents, but also find out about all the activities that are on locally under one roof.

"We are also branching out to do lots of new things at the moment, so we would love to have more volunteers to help."

She said the new babies group had partly been launched to compensate for the loss of children's centres across the county.

There are currently five in West Oxfordshire but four are due to close next March.

Ms Watterson, who has been involved with the trust for about six months, said: "With the children's centres facing difficulties and lots of changes happening, we want there to be a consistent place where mums and dads can come and meet up with their young children.

"The first year is quite tricky and I have found sharing the experience with other people has been really helpful."

The jamboree will be held between 2pm and 4pm.

The first bumps and babies group will be held at The Coffee Shed, in the Leys Recreation Ground, three days later from 10am to 11.30am.

Hannah Hawkins, NCT branch chairman said: "NCT was created in 1956 with the aim that all new and expectant parents should feel supported, informed and confident and this remains at the heart of what we do today.

"We hope different generations of parents will get together at our jamboree, swap stories and make friends.

"It’s also a chance for the branch and its volunteers to celebrate our achievements and history as we look forward to expand our reach to even more parents in the future."