A PROJECT which supports women through pregnancy and childbirth has celebrated its fourth anniversary.

The Bradford Doula Project trains and supports women who need extra help and includes sessions on antenatal, labour and childbirth and postnatal support in breastfeeding.

The project aims to reduce smoking in pregnancy, encourage active labour and provide information on choices of birth and is funded through the Bradford City Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG).

A birthday celebration event was held at the Carlisle Business Centre in Manningham, where 'doulas' - who offer the support - joined women who have used the service.

The project has trained 36 doulas and supported 95 women, babies and families over the last four years.

Bradford Doula co-ordinator Aliya Fazil said: "We had an excellent turnout. Quite a few mums and their babies and toddlers came to the celebration.

"To see some of the women who we have helped grow in confidence is wonderful.

"It was great to see how far the children in the group have come.

"We have seen that more services in Bradford are more confident with referring women to us now.

"We hold monthly meetings where the doulas can share their experiences of working with families."