A SHOPPING centre in Southend has created a breast-feeding area for mums.

The new facility in Royals Shopping Centre on the high street is on the lower ground floor, next to Debenhams.

Features of the new area include four cosy tub chairs and enough space to accommodate shopping bags and baby buggies.

The area was officially opened yesterday with a ceremony hosted by centre manager Dawn Jeakings.

The breast-feeding area comes after the Royals announced its backing of Southend Supports Breastfeeding during the summer.

Stickers were distributed throughout the shopping centre and stores were also encouraged to show their support with signs urging the public to use the hashtag ‘#celebratebreastfeeding’.

Dawn Jeakings said: “When we announced that we were backing the Southend Supports Breastfeeding campaign, we received a lot of positive comments on our social media pages.

“There were also plenty of suggestions of what our customers wanted in terms of breastfeeding facilities. We listened and took on board those ideas and that’s why we have created this new area.”

“We’ve designed it to be as cosy, convenient and practical as nursing mums would expect. I think it is a great addition to our overall ‘offer’ to customers and confirms our commitment to Southend Supports Breastfeeding.”

Whilst the new area has been created with nursing mums in mind, it is also available to all families with a need to feed young children.

Ms Jeakings added: “Mums can express milk so that others, such as dad, can feed their baby too. The new facility is very much open to parents and carers who may wish to simply feed a baby formula milk in comfortable surroundings.”

Visit wwww.royalsshoppingcentre.co.uk.