NEW parents could be saved from missing "out of this world" support as volunteers offer to fill the void left by children's centre closures.

Abingdon's branch of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) hopes to quadruple its newborn baby sessions in the town ahead of funding cuts to services.

Government cuts mean Oxfordshire County Council has had to slash budgets this year and stop paying for dozens of centres - including three in the Abingdon area - in September.

Now Abingdon NCT plans to host a fundraising tea party on Sunday, May 15, to extend its Bumps and Babes group from a monthly meeting at Coffee Aroma in High Street to a weekly session at a larger venue.

All current and former branch members are welcome to join the party which will also celebrate the national charity's 60th anniversary,

NCT practitioner Sophie Jamieson said she hoped extra sessions would help to replace lost services.

She said: "The sessions will be a place to come and normalise the experiences of being a new parent.

"They are valued by those that come, especially if you are new to Abingdon - it's a way of feeling a bit less isolated.

"People's identities are often built into their career and when that stops overnight it makes time to build a new identity – that's where NCT helps."

It is hoped extra sessions will bridge the gap left if South Abingdon Children's Centre in Caldecott Chase, North Abingdon Children's Centre in Northcourt Road and North East Abingdon Children's Centre in Wootton close.

Abingdon resident Sian Morris brings her 11-month old son Ryan to the group, which gives support to new parents particularly with feeding.

The 33-year-old said: "It was the scariest day of my life when I first came home from the hospital but I thought 'I only have to get through the night and there's support at 10am'.

"It was just amazing to have somebody to put their arm round you and give you a cup of tea and calm you down."

Hannah Ramsdale, 32, goes to the group with her eight-month old baby Emily.

She said: "They showed my husband what he needed to do to help at home. For dads it's really difficult in those early days, especially with your hormones which are erratic.

"I can't even describe the support the baby cafe gave for the feeding, it was out of this world."

Abingdon NCT branch manager Nadine Thompson, 37, got involved after having her first child Jacob three years ago.

The South Abingdon mum-of-two said: "I had a busy job and as soon as I had him - I feel bad saying it now - I felt a bit bored. "NCT helps people to make friends which is really important. Before I had children I went to work and came home again.

"Now I get involved in the community."

The group hopes to get generations of members to come to the tea party, which is sponsored by Finders Keepers letting agency.

For more information visit nct.org.uk/branches/abingdon.