DEVIZES Maternity Unit, which has won a reprieve after a successful campaign by the community, is holding an open day on Saturday.

The open day, which runs from 10am to 5pm, is open to parents to be or people who just want to know what facilities the unit has.

Staff will be on hand to offer advice and take guests on a tour.

Devizes midwife Helen Cosslett said: "The purpose of the open day is to promote the unit and let people see what kind of service we offer.

"We aim to make newcomers to the region aware of our existence and we would particularly welcome visitors who live in the east of the county which does not have the benefit of a community based birthing centre."

The unit was under threat of closure because the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust said it was under used and costly to run but following a campaign led by the Gazette - which included two petitions signed by 20,000 people and a protest march through Devizes - usage has gone up.

The number of births at the unit last year was 158. The latest available figures show that in January there were 19 births, only ten less than at Chippenham and Trowbridge maternity units. During January maternity bed occupancy at Devizes was 47 per cent, just three per cent below Chippenham's unit, and 13 per cent above Trowbridge's unit.

The Devizes unit is run by midwives and has five post natal beds and two delivery rooms. The birthing pool is also becoming increasingly popular with around 60 per cent of women using it.

Not all women who use the unit give birth there. It is only suitable for women with uncomplicated births and women who give birth at a larger hospital such as Bath's Royal United often come back to the Devizes unit for post natal care.

The unit provides one to one care in a home from home environment.

First time mother Stacie Smith gave birth to daughter Isobel Young on March 6 at the unit.

Miss Smith, 19, who is living with her partner David Young, 21, at her parents' home in Elm Tree Gardens, Devizes, said: "The unit is fantastic. I gave birth within four hours of getting to the unit.

"Neither David nor I drive and I was driven there by my dad. If the

Devizes unit wasn't there then I would have had a longer journey in pain to another maternity unit.

"I stayed in for several days after I gave birth and I needed that to get into a routine. The midwives helped me to breastfeed and to bath Isobel.

"There was no pressure on me to leave the unit until I was ready. A friend of my mother's gave birth the other day at a large hospital and she had to leave the following day."

Campaigner Angie Tinker, who lives in Devizes with husband Nick, gave birth to their second child, Ella, on March 21 at the Devizes unit.

"It's thanks to the midwives that I was able to breastfeed Ella. If I had gone home earlier than I did then I don't think I would have done it."

For more information about the open day call (01380) 720303.