HEALTH chiefs have enlisted East Lancashire's biggest football stars in a bid to persuade supporters it doesn’t matter what town their children are born in.

A campaign has been launched to convince Rovers fans that there is nothing wrong with seeing their babies born in Burnley as medics tell families to have their child born in the best location for mum and baby.

Under revamped services expectant mums have been given the option of a birth at home, in a birth centre or in a hospital setting.

However, from November there will be no births at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Women whose medical histories mean their birth is likely to be complex or who would prefer to give birth in hospital will be cared for in a new £32million Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre at Burnley General Hospital.

Those expected to have 'low risk' pregnancies will be offered a birth at home or in one of three midwife-led birth centres, including one in the new Burnley maternity unit, one at the new health hub in Rawtenstall, and one at a new £900,000 building in Park Lee Road, Blackburn.

David Dunn and Graham Alexander urged football fans to put tribal rivalry to one side and make use of the 'fantastic' facilities at Blackburn Birthing Centre, which opens tomorrow.

Clarets captain Graham Alexander said: “It's a great message and that is why both David and I are supporting it.

“No matter what your football allegiance or the rivalry between the two teams, what is right for both sets of fans is that mum and baby get the best treatment.

"Hopefully people will take that on board and do the right thing.”

Simon Hill, associate medical director for family care and consultant gynaecologist, said the trust wanted “to overcome the historic Blackburn and Burnley divide”.

He said: “The presence of David and Graham at the opening of the birth centre was incredibly significant.”