BABY Cafe Local is up and running at the Dragonflies Children's Centre at Halesworth – a venue for young mothers and their babies to meet and obtain advice.

And the aim is that it will lead to the setting up of Breast Friends, also to offer help and advice for those breast-feeding their children.

Karina Irons, manager of the Beccles and Halesworth children's centres, said they were working in partnership with the Great Yarmouth and Waveney's specialist practitioner and health visitor team leader Margaret Holtz on the project.

'Two enthusiastic volunteers, Marta Camus and Ewelina Zjawiony have done the training and are helping at the cafe. They are passionate and enthusiastic. We wanted to set up something immediately, so we have set up the cafe, and will work towards Breast Friends,' she said.

'We want families in Halesworth and the surrounding area to be able to access this sort of valuable support, to raise awareness and provide a positive impact to breast feeding.'

Vix Bowen, who works at the centre, will be breast feeding leader. Once it achieves Baby Cafe status a grand launch will be organised.

'In the longer term we want to get ante-natal mums involved as well,' said Vix. 'People are welcome to come along and find out what we are doing. It has been a long time in the planning, and we are really excited.'

The cafe at the centre, in Wissett Road, is now open each Tuesday morning between 10am-12 noon, for chat and advice, and cake, fruit and coffee, using Fairtrade provisions.