A RIGHT ‘Royle’ visit was held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Cheshire and North Wales Human Milk Bank in the form of TV’s Jim Royle, aka Ricky Tomlinson.

Ricky, a regular supporter for the Milk Bank at the Countess of Chester Hospital, joined breast milk donors and fundraisers plus mothers and babies who have received donor breast milk for the celebrations.

The milk bank supports mothers who have difficulty providing breast milk to their babies naturally, including babies born prematurely.

Ricky said: “You only have to look around this room today at all the babies to see how important the milk bank has been for many families and how important it will continue to be in the future. It’s fantastic and I’m just happy to support it in whatever way I can.”

Last year alone the milk bank pasteurised 1,300 litres of breast milk which had been donated from the bank’s 190 donor mothers.

Human Milk Bank founder and manager Lynda Coulter said: “The benefits of breast milk are immeasurable not only for premature babies but any babies being born in hospital whose mothers are not able to breastfeed straight away.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all of our donor mums who have made the success of the milk bank possible over the last 10 years.”

TV star Ricky also launched the milk bank’s new DVD Using donor breast milk. The production of the DVD was made possible through the generosity of Craig and Barbara Newnes, of Ellesmere Port, who wanted a lasting tribute to their son Oliver, who died from a rare brain abscess aged just two.

For more information, visit www.chestermilkbank.org.uk or call Lynda Coulter on 01244 366416.