Posters showing the 11 Sunderland mothers wearing the famous red and white stripes while feeding their babies are appearing across Wearside.

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Health bosses hope the "Breast Support You Can Give Your Baby" campaign will boost the city's below average breastfeeding rate.

In Sunderland, 42 per cent of mums breastfeed, compared to 62 per cent nationally – and the rate falls to just 20 per cent by the time the baby is six weeks old.

One of the mothers featured on the posters is student Christabel Norden, 21, of Millfield, who was photographed with her 10-week-old son, Thomas.

She said: "I think this is a great way of spreading the word about breastfeeding and I was very happy to get involved with it.

"For me there was never going to be an alternative to breastfeeding, I always planned to breastfeed my son.

"I very much hope that by building on the local interest in football that we can make more people take an interest in breastfeeding and inspire more mothers to take it up."

The 11 mothers featured all live in Sunderland and have received support from partners and family, as well as peer counsellors, who are also known as Bosom Buddies.

The campaign was developed by staff from Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust (TPCT), City Hospitals Sunderland and Sunderland Children's Centres.

Julie Hemmer, health co-ordinator for Sunderland TPCT and the breastfeeding lead for children's centres, said the campaign is designed to promote the importance of breastfeeding.

Julie said: "There are lots of studies that demonstrate breastfeeding is the best form of nutrition for infants and has an important role to play in protecting babies from illnesses.

"Not only does it keep babies healthy, but also there are considerable benefits for the mother, which includes prevention of some cancers.

"We wanted to use the high levels of local interest in SAFC as a feature to help get across our message.

"We aim to emphasise that the best support any mother can give her baby is to breastfeed."

Julie called on partners and families of breastfeeding mums to show their support because it helps them to continue.

Health experts say that low breastfeeding rates can contribute to childhood obesity and other health problems among children and young people.

Julie added: "There is lots of advice and information available for mothers who wish to breastfeed and anyone requiring further details should contact their midwife or local children's centre."

EXCLUSIVE breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of a baby's life as it provides all the nutrients they need.

The antibodies in breast milk also help the baby fight off infection and protects against allergies.

Studies have also shown that mothers who breastfeed have less risk of pre-menopausal breast and ovarian cancer.

Breastfeeding mums are also likely to lose the weight gained during pregnancy more quickly.