Managers of Leicester's maternity service are campaigning to recruit more midwives.

A jobs fair is to be held to encourage applications and entice former staff back into employment.

The shortage of midwives had threatened maternity services in the city.

But plans to merge the maternity units at the Leicester Royal Infirmary and the Leicester General have now been dropped.

Flexible working

Helen Walton, senior midwife, said it was part of the challenge to save both units.

"We are hoping we can make things a lot quicker and appear more friendly to encourage people back that have not worked for some time.

"We do a lot of flexible working and we can offer people flexible jobs with times to suit around their families.

"Tell us what you want, and if we can accommodate you we will do," she said.

Qualified nurses are being urged to retrain

The job fair which will give those interested, the information they need about a career as a midwife and offer on-the-spot interviews for a range of posts.

It is being held at the Leicester Tigers' ground on Monday.

Midwife Clare Dodd explained why she enjoys her job: "It can be very stressful, but it is a very rewarding job being with women and their partners through the most joyous time of their lives.

"I was a nurse before I was a midwife and I think there is definitely more reward from being a midwife rather than a nurse."