BABIES around Malvern could soon be chatting away -- in sign language.

Mum-of-three Liz Merrifield is starting a new Sing and Sign class, teaching babies to communicate in sign before they are able to talk.

The classes teach babies from the age of seven months a series of signs for simple words such as `milk' and `sleep.'

Because there were no local classes, Mrs Merrifield taught her youngest child Phoebe, now 20 months old, using a home DVD.

She was so impressed with the results that she wanted to help other parents to learn the skills.

"I really enjoyed it straight away and it was lovely being able to communicate properly with her before she could speak," she said. "Phoebe was signing back at me within a couple of months and it got to the stage where we had so many signs I could hardly count them!"

Now that Phoebe is getting older and starting to speak she is replacing many of her signs with words she has learned.

"It certainly doesn't have a negative effect on speech development," said Mrs Merrifield. "And thanks to the signing, Phoebe already knows words like `helicopter' and `elephant' that she wouldn't otherwise."

The classes will teach babies signs using songs and nursery rhymes. As the babies learn new signs, parents can then decide which of them they want to learn at home.

Mrs Merrifield will hold classes, costing £4.50 per week, in Malvern on Monday afternoons. There will also be classes in Rushwick and Ashperton.

Numbers are limited to around 11 babies per class, but Mrs Merrifield is considering a second class in Malvern if there is the demand.

For further information, call 01684 893099 or email emerrifield@btconnect.com