Mothers are being invited to take part in a £225,000 hospital trial to encourage breast feeding.

Experts are teaching midwives at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Headington, Oxford, to use new techniques to help first-time mothers.

Half the staff have been taught to use the new advice and the Department of Health-funded scheme will observe how effective it is compared with current methods.

Merrin Bath, a researcher from Coventry University, where the study is being co-ordinated, said: "The trial looks at care given to first-time mothers on post-natal wards. We want to see if it will help them to breast feed more successfully and for longer.

"The trial is blind, so mothers don't know whether the care they get is the old or new type, but the findings so far are really promising."

Researchers are still searching for mothers-to-be to take part in the Breast Feeding Best Start Study, which will run until the end of February next year.

Deputy headteacher Mrs Ratcliffe, 31, of Ormond Road, Wantage, is feeding four-month-old Elizabeth using advice she was given by staff at the JR.

She said: "I know a lot of mothers who weren't involved in the study who had no help and they really struggled to breast feed. Many gave up in the end. So this is really invaluable."

Beth Graham, the JR practice development midwife and breast feeding practice leader, said the training complemented current practice and mothers were keen to take part.

Anyone who would like to take part and is due to give birth before February, should contact their midwife.

The breast feeding clinic at the JR is open on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, between 9am and 4pm, but mothers are advised to telephone before visiting. Clinics are also run by community midwives around the county.