BREAST-FEEDING mums in Wyre Forest should find a trip to the shops more enjoyable following the hard work of two midwives.

Julie Poultney and Jane Houlton, midwives with Sure Start Wyre Forest, have come up with an information leaflet pinpointing the places which make breast-feeding mums most welcome.

The two checked out such things as whether there was a room, separate from the toilet, with a chair, nappy changing facilities and how often the facilities were cleaned and nappy bins emptied.

They kept mainly to supermarkets and restaurants and awarded places a gold, silver or bronze award, depending on the level of facilities.

Mrs Poultney said: "It is not just about having extra-special facilities. It is about being feeding and baby-friendly. We found some places which may only have had a bronze were very happy for people to feed in a comfortable chair on the premises.

"It has been more about raising awareness than anything else. We want to get away from the attitude that women have to hide away in the toilet to breast-feed a baby.

"After all, you would not eat a three-course meal in the toilet."

The leaflet was developed following discussions with mothers attending the Breast Feeding Support Group, which meets at Kidderminster Health Centre every Thursday.

The group, which is run by midwives, Penny Turton and Karen Chapman, of the Wyre Forest Birth Centre, provides support, information and a meeting place for mums to exchange ideas.

A coffee morning was held during last week's National Breast-feeding Awareness Week.

For more information about the group and the leaflet, call Sure Start on 01562 514980.