Award-winning actress Samantha Giles is joining some heroic Wavertree mums to encourage many more women to breastfeed.

Best known for playing Bernice Thomas in Emmerdale until 2004, and Valerie Holden in Hollyoaks, Samantha, 37, is visiting Wavertree Aquatics Centre on Tuesday 20 January to meet eight local women who have earned an invaluable breastfeeding qualification.

The eight mums have completed the 'La Leche League Peer Counsellor' programme at Wavertree Children's Centre, giving them the skills to offer new mums breastfeeding support.

Their mission is now to become breastfeeding ambassadors in the community, urging scores of local mothers to breastfeed and provide them with information and encouragement.

Samantha, who is a breastfeeding mum herself, will congratulate the local mums on completing the programme and present their certificates.

Doreen Newby, manager at Wavertree Children's Centre, said: "We are really proud of all the mums who have completed this fantastic programme. They are now equipped with the skills they need to provide valuable support to new mums, promote awareness and education, and provide a better understanding of breastfeeding.

"It's a fantastic example of how our Children's Centres can help people of all ages learn new skills and gain qualifications which benefit families throughout the community. And I'm delighted Samantha Giles will be joining this celebration of our mums' success."

The eight mums who will be meeting Samantha are Patricia Beaumont (with baby Alana), Tricia Maguire (with baby Lucy Tom), Jill O'Mahony (with baby Eve Isabella), Colette Millward (with baby Rosa), Yvonne Poole (with baby Lewis), Rosie Philips (with baby Emilia), Marketa Helliwell (with babies Veronika and Rachel) and Lucy Jane Murphy (with baby Evelyn Rose).

They completed the La Leche League Peer Counsellor programme at Wavertree Childrens Centre over a period of 12 weeks, between September and December 2008.

The city council's executive member for children and families, Councillor Keith Turner, said: "It's great news that local mothers have completed this programme. Liverpool still has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding among new mothers in the country, a trend we're working hard to reverse.

"Thanks to these mums, with the support of Wavertree Children's Centre, we have a fantastic new team of breastfeeding champions who can help educate many, many women about breastfeeding and its benefits for the health of both baby and mother."

Samantha Giles, whose role in Emmerdale earned her a TV Quick Award, has also appeared in popular series 'Where The Heart Is', as well as Coronation Street and Dangerfield.

Info via the City of Liverpool website - 19th January 2009