HAMPSHIRE’S newest mums and dads have a new army of health visitors to help them cope with the ups and downs of parenthood.

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust celebrated the graduation of 24 new practitioners, who will be offering vital support and advice to families during the early life of their child.

They are the newest cohort of the country’s health visitors, who have completed a public health degree course as part of a government drive to recruit more across the country by next year.

The graduates are all registered nurses who wanted to extend their qualifications.