A Dalston charity is calling on mums in the borough to volunteer to help other women keep the baby blues at bay.

Family Action Hackney, based in Arbutus Street, is asking mums to take part in a project launched this month aiming to halve rates of post-natal depression.

Up to 762 children may have been born to a mother with postnatal depression in Hackney in 2009, according to the organisation.

Volunteers will befriend vulnerable and isolated pregnant women to provide support and advice before and after the birth.

They will get training and supervision from a social worker or health care professional.

For more information or to take part, call Family Action Hackney’s perinatal support coordinator Saddaf Aslam on 0207 249 8109.