Mums across Oxfordshire are stepping up their campaign to save a world-renowned breast-feeding clinic at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital.

They are planning a demonstration at the hospital to protest against the proposed closure of the clinic, which was launched in 1991 and now runs two days a week.

The Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, which faces a £33m deficit, had planned to close it, possibly on September 7, but now says no final decision has been taken.

It plans to make major cuts, including 600 jobs, and shut Banbury's Horton Hospital special care baby unit, downgrade its maternity services and close the 24-hour children's ward.

Campaigners said the number of births per year could increase from 6,500 to 8,000 at the John Radcliffe and there would then be an even greater need for the clinic.

Jane Ramsay, 34, of Maidcroft Road, Cowley, Oxford, is one of a growing number of mothers protesting against the closure.

She used the clinic with her daughter Roisin, two, and four-month-old son Rowan and said: "The clinic was a real lifeline for me and I can't believe the trust is planning to close it.

"There is so much pressure these days for mothers to breast-feed because of the health benefits for their children and themselves.

"You shouldn't put pressure on mothers to breast-feed at the same time if you are going to remove the the support and advice they need."

Guinevere Webster, 32, of Giles Road, Littlemore, who used the clinic with her 22-month-old daughter Jemima, said she would be happy to take part in a demon- stration.

"I think it would show the trust the strength of feeling there is among mothers who have used the clinic.

"The trust may start to back- track and say they are going to spend money providing services elsewhere instead, but we think the JR is the best place for the clinic, particularly for new mums."

Janet Knowles, head of midwifery services at the trust, told the Oxford Mail last week there was a plan to close the clinic, but no final decision had been made.

She added: "An inaccurate rumour is circulating among a group of new mothers that we are about to close breast-feeding support services as a cost-cutting exercise.

"This is not true and it is a great pity that this story is spreading and causing unnecessary alarm.

"The breast-feeding support service is an excellent one so we are developing proposals to further extend it across Oxfordshire, so that more women can benefit.

"In particular, we want to be able to reach women who do not use the current service, for example, young first-time mothers in areas outside Oxford, who may be less aware of the benefits of breast-feeding.

"We also plan to offer more breast-feeding help to women in the wards after delivery, as research shows that the first 24 hours are crucial in encouraging mothers to breast-feed.

"We will be doing this through outreach clinics across the county and through working with health visitors. This may mean that the JR-based sessions will move to a community base so they are more accessible, but this has not yet been decided."