The number of women who smoke during pregnancy has fallen in England, new figures show.
Data published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) reveal that 12.7 per cent of women who had a baby in the 12 months to March 2013 were still smoking when they gave birth.
This compares with 13.2 per cent in the previous 12-month period and 14.4 per cent in 2007-08.
The figures indicate that efforts to help women stop smoking when they get pregnant are working, although some parts of the country still have very high rates.
For instance, almost a fifth (19.7 per cent) of pregnant women in the north-east of England and over 30 per cent of those in Blackpool said they were still smoking when they gave birth in 2012-13.
In contrast, just 5.7 per cent of women in London and 2.3 per cent in Westminster primary care trust (PCT) continued to smoke throughout their pregnancy.
HSCIC chief executive Alan Perkins said: 'Today's report is crucial for addressing those regions and PCTs where the rates of smoking during pregnancy are particularly high and are likely to alert local-level health professionals.'
Janet Fyle, professional policy adviser at the Royal College of Midwives, said the report highlighted the links between smoking and deprivation.
'We know that smoking in pregnancy has serious health consequences for both mother and baby, yet there appears to be a slower decline among the women in deprived areas who need the most help to give up smoking,' she observed.