A HAVEN for mothers who are breastfeeding has been opened - in Bolton's town centre library.

The "feed and read" area is available to any mother in the town centre, whether or not they are using the library in Le Mans Crescent.

The area is discreetly positioned in the library, but is not shut off, so that mothers do not feel they have to hide away while feeding their babies.

Bolton Council and the NHS Primary Care Trust joined forces to create the haven space, which has comfortable chairs, books, DVDs and information about feeding and caring for babies.

There are also books to entertain toddlers who are out and about with their mums.

Chris Jordan, the PCT's "breastfeeding champion", said: "It's an area where women know they will be very welcome to come and feed their babies.

"This is a discreet area where mothers can feel some privacy but it is not totally shut away from the rest of the library. We hope it will create a nice atmosphere."

Mrs Jordan said women sometimes felt uncomfortable about feeding in public because it could be considered by some to be socially inappropriate.

Young mum Hollie Unsworth, aged 17, from Bromley Cross, officially opened the area on Saturday.

She and Abbi Rutter, aged 20, from Breightmet, are currently appearing in a Lancashire-wide poster campaign to highlight the benefits of breastfeeding.

Linda Gerrard-Longworth, aged 36, from Bolton, who was at the opening of the new breastfeeding area with her 13-month-old daughter Anna, said: "I think it's fantastic.

"I feel comfortable breastfeeding anywhere in town, but it would be nice if other businesses could have breastfeeding areas so other mums, who are not as comfortable as I am with it, can feel welcome."

The breastfeeding area is also big enough for presentations and the PCT intends to hold sessions advising new parents on the benefits of breastfeeding.

Lesley Hardman, a health improvement specialist for the PCT, said: "We have always wanted a town centre location where we can give ante-natal advice to new parents, giving them an idea of what to expect.

"Hopefully, by instigating a culture of good nutrition from the beginning, by breastfeeding, we will be encouraging healthy habits from the start."

To mark the launch, mums who visited the new facility between 11am and 1pm on Saturday were given the chance to set a breastfeeding world record.

They were invited to take part in the Big Feed - a joint attempt with other venues across the North-west to set a record for the number of mums breastfeeding at the same time.

Organisers collected names of mums who used the centre on Saturday, and will apply to the Guinness Book of Records to find out if the efforts are a world's best.

The result will be known this week.