ONE in eight pregnant women in Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven were smokers at the time of giving birth in the past year, it has been revealed.

Across the Bradford region, the figure was 14.9 per cent – the highest rate outside London.

The latest statistics – released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre – show that from April 2015 to April this year, more than 1,200 pregnant women from the Bradford City, Bradford Districts and Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven Clinical Commissioning Groups areas were reported as being smokers.

Bradford Districts had the highest level of nearly one in five.

In Bradford City, ten per cent of pregnant women were smokers, which falls below the national ambition target set out by the NHS of 11 per cent.

Overall, while Bradford is still higher than the national target, the number of pregnant smokers has fallen compared to the same period last year.

In the year 2014/15, 15 per cent of women were smokers at the time of giving birth – a fall of 0.1 per cent.

Keighley West councillor Cath Bacon, deputy chairman of the health and social care scrutiny committee, said it is saddening to see such a small percentage fall in the number of pregnant smokers.

She added: “One of our main targets moving forward is getting into the next generation, and helping women understand the effects smoking can have on both their health and on the health of their unborn child, and helping them to be smoke-free.

“I know health professionals are working really hard to encourage mothers-to-be to stop smoking; it’s a hard ask but, luckily, we are seeing smoking rates go down. It’s saddening to see such a small fall, but while it’s a step in the right direction, there is a lot of work to be done."

Information and support is available from the Bradford Council stop smoking service for anyone wishing to stub out the habit.

Call 01274 437700 for more details. Advice and resources are also available at nhs.uk/smokefree.