STAFF at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary are celebrating International Day of the Midwife today, Thursday.

There will be a display at the hospital on the successes of the Wrightington Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust's maternity service.

Also on display will be information about volunteer work carried out abroad by some of the trust’s midwives, student midwives and The Royal College of Midwives secretary Alison Murray.

There will also be a cake sale at the hospital during the morning.

Diane Swindlehurst, head of midwifery and children’s and patient services, said: “Our midwives work tremendously hard, around the clock, all year round, to provide top-class, compassionate care to families.

“The International Day of the Midwife is a great opportunity for us to say thank you, not just to them but to midwives all around the world.”