A DADS and babies class in Sutton will raise money to buy new beds for birth partners at Airedale Hospital.

Sweaty Mama Craven & Pendle is running a special class for fathers on March 8 from noon at Sutton Village Hall.

Proceeds will support a campaign by Sutton couple Richard and Emma Smith to raise £5,500 for foldout beds and reclining chairs.

The beds will enable fathers and other partners to remain on the maternity ward after the birth to support the new mothers and bond with the babies.

There is no charge for the dads and babies class, but people will be asked to make a donation in a bucket.

Richard said: “It should be a good laugh attempting the class that the mums do week-in week-out. Mums are more than welcome to support and watch/cheer from the sides.”

Richard and Emma, whose son Reuben was born at Airedale last summer, launched their appeal after hearing Airedale Hospital had been forced to take out its existing fold-out beds because they were old and unsafe.

They quickly raised £1,655 through donations from family, friends and fellow parents who have had babies at Airedale’s maternity unit.

Visit justgiving.com/agh-maternity to donate to the beds appeal, and the Sweaty Mama Craven & Pendle page on Facebook for information about the Sutton event.