Two Bristol mothers are launching an appeal to fund specialist nurses to support women suffering post-natal depression.

Ruth Jackson and Hazel Rolston both suffered with the illness and now help other mums through their support of Bristol charity, Hope's Place.

The organisation provides a home visiting service where volunteers counsel and support mothers.

The mums are now encouraging people to support a fundraising appeal to provide dedicated nurses trained to help women battling post-natal depression.

They are hosting a charity breakfast at Bordeaux Quay Brasserie next week to raise money for Park Street-based Hope's Place and to launch the campaign for the first Bluebell Nurses.

Mrs Jackson, 39, believes the nurses in Bristol could be a pilot that could be followed up elsewhere and has been working with local health trusts to see how they might be able to support the scheme.

She said: "I was affected quite severely by Post-natal Depression following the birth of my first daughter which was more than ten years ago now, however I remember how isolated and confused I felt as I was expecting to take to motherhood like a duck to water.

"I feel that even though I suffered quite badly, I was one of the lucky ones as I had a lot of

support from my family and husband and an excellent health visitor.

" However, I am very aware that the story for lots of mothers is not so good and have heard how some mothers can go for months struggling on alone and never really getting the hands-on support they need, leaving them feeling low for much longer than may be necessary.

"Our hope is that a Bluebell Nurse will be that hands-on professional they need and someone who will be trained to be an expert in the area of maternal mental health."

Mrs Jackson, of Kingsdown said she is aware that there is a stigma associated with post-natal depression and mental health issues generally and wants to use the campaign to raise awareness of the difficulties some mothers suffer.

She said: "The statistics state that one in ten mothers are affected by post-natal depression but it is probably higher and there are suggestions that it could be as many as one in six.

"There are no specialist nurses that can visit mothers with post-natal depression at the moment and if we get the first Bluebell Nurse in Bristol I see it almost as a pilot study.

"We are convinced there is a need."

Mrs Rolston wrote a book about her experiences of post-natal depression, Beyond the Edge, to help her deal with her feelings and also to encourage other women to seek help in dealing with the illness.

Local designers and artists will be selling their work at the breakfast event in Bordeaux Quay next Friday, including Katherine Close who has designed the logo for the Bluebell Nurses campaign.

Mothers will also be selling their own items including art, cards, home wares and specially designed Bluebell cupcakes with 10 per cent from each sale donated to Hope's Place.

Other events that have been planned in support of the appeal are a cinema evening called Mums on Seats and a family picnic next spring.

The breakfast is open to all and tickets are £10 with all profits donated to the charity Hope's Place. More information about the Bluebell Nurses appeal will be available on the day.

For more information and to reserve tickets for the Bluebell Breakfast, contact Ruth Jackson on 07767 324003.