T HERE'S always a danger with taking public data too literally and yet, in the case of figures unearthed by the

Journal

this week about the link between breast-feeding and health, the numbers do look pretty compelling.

NHS figures show 96% of the "least deprived" mothers in North Devon breastfed their child compared to 68% of the "most deprived".

Beyond those statistics, of course, lies a bigger picture and this is spelt out starkly by a senior midwife who says in some North Devon communities there is "a deeply entrenched bottle-feeding culture".

Given the proven health benefits for mum and baby of breast-feeding that has to be a worry and so it's timely that a spotlight is shone on these alarming figures.