MOTHERS fear a boroughwide breastfeeding support group could have its council funding cut.

Breastfeeding Together is a Wigan Council funded service which provides peer support across the borough.

The service, which started in 2011, holds meetings in children’s centres and provides supporters who help breastfeeding mums in hospital and at home.

But despite the service being used by thousands of women, the council has notified the group that its funding could be at risk.

Third-time mum Nicola Edwards-Shorter has been going to the group for almost 16 months since the birth of her son and said it will be a “catastrophic loss to the community” if the service is closed.

Mrs Edwards-shorter, from Astley said: “Breastfeeding was something that I really wanted to do from looking at the statistics and the benefits.

“I wasn’t able to do it with my first two children because of there being such a lack of support.

“Since finding out about the Breastfeeding Together group I am still breastfeeding my son.

“The support I have received has been second to none. If I hadn’t received the support I wouldn’t have been able to go as far on my breastfeeding journey as I have.

“If the council cuts this funding, it will be catastrophic for future mums and babies.”

More than 120 businesses in the borough have signed up to the Breastfeeding Friendly Business Award which pledges to support breastfeeding families.

Professor Kate Ardern, director of public health at Wigan Council, said: “Wigan Council regularly reviews all services and contracts to ensure that they are offering value for money for the taxpayer and delivering improved outcomes.

“The contract for breastfeeding peer support is no different, but there has not been any decisions made to reduce the funding in this area.

“Breastfeeding initiation levels are not at the level we need for the wellbeing of our population, we will continue to look to improve the offer and find new and different ways of improving outcomes and reducing costs.”