A SCOTS town is to supply new mothers with boxes for their babies to sleep in in an attempt to cut down on the cost of looking after newborns.

It has been credited with dramatically reducing infant mortality rates in Finland.

The group behind the scheme, New Life, says the boxes with sleepsuits, vests, nappies and toiletries for mother and baby, are expected to be distributed in August from the Bathgate Health Centre.

A number of mothers have already signed up to the scheme which was introduced in the 1930s, when Finland had a high infant mortality rate of 65 in 1000.

Since then, nearly every child born in the country has been presented with one of the packages.

Local SNP Councillor William Boyle said he thought it was an excellent initiative. He added: "I have two grandchildren and I know how expensive new babies can be. The challenge will be to find the funding to really get the project going, but I would be happy to help get them pointed in the right direction."

Many Finnish infants even spend the first year of their life sleeping in the specially made box, which comes with a mattress.

Finland now has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world thanks to the scheme, and the introduction of prenatal care for all women in the 1940s and the advent of the Finnish National Health Service in the 1960s.

Mothers have the option of taking €140 (£119) instead, but only 5% do so, as the box is widely believed to represent better value.

Widespread introduction of the boxes across the Lothians would be likely to further drive down infant mortality rates, which are already tumbling.

New Life is the brainchild of mother of five Claire Coyle, who was inspired to take on the challenge after having to spend a fortune on supplies for her latest arrival.

She said: "We've been running for less than a week and already the response has been brilliant, people are really getting behind it.

"Local health centres and clinics have agreed to carry our flyers telling people about the scheme and asking for volunteers and donations, and people have actually started handing things in already.

"Mums have been just coming up and handing me baby things they no longer need when I'm dropping off my other kids at school."

Ms Coyle, 31, whose youngest child, Joseph, is five months, said: "When I found out I was pregnant with Joseph I had already given away all the baby stuff I had for my other children, so I pretty much had to start from scratch. I did manage to get some things second hand, but it still all adds up."

She added: "When I saw on the news about the Finnish baby boxes that are given out by the government over there I thought it was a great idea, especially as new mums often need a bit of direction regarding what they're going to need, there's so much to think about and remember. I thought, someone should do something like that here in Bathgate."

Anna Gault