‘The Big Latch On’, yesterday's national breast-feeding event was very well supported in regional Otago.

About 1474 women took part in the event which was a record and was more as compared to about 1299 women who took part last year.

About 13 mothers in Queenstown, gathered and they had their babies also with them at the Wakatipu Parish Lounge at St Peter's Anglican Church.

The Breast-Feeding Peer Support Group and the La Leche League were the organisers of the event.

Local mothers who had been trained to provide breast-feeding support comprised the support group, counsellor Catkin Bartlett said, for advising and counselling for mothers.

Organiser Kate Atkinson said that breast feeding support and mother to mother support was provided by the La Leche League.

There was once a month gathering in which mothers were given chance to talk about issues, if any, and for urgent assistance a 24-hr helpline was run.

About 11 mothers alongwith their babies had gathered In Alexandra, at the Central Stories Museum and Art Galley to take part.