A team of four at North Tyneside General Hospital are offering aromatherapy, massage and reflexology to mums-to-be during labour.

Jane Abbott, Alexis Luckley, Siobhan Limerick and Lis McNulty want to make childbirth less stressful for mothers.

Jan Henry, clinical lead midwife, said the aim of new service was to help make childbirth a positive experience.

'Bring normality'

She said: "All the evidence shows that for a normal delivery women who are relaxed have an easier and more successful labour.

"Childbirth is such an amazing event and as a midwife you feel incredibly privileged to be sharing it.

"These additional therapies are just another way in which we can help to make it as positive and happy an experience as possible."

The new training programme coincides with the launch of the Royal College of Midwives' campaign to "bring normality back into childbirth".