ONE in ten women in Dorset are smoking while pregnant, according to the latest figures.

There were 1,835 pregnancies in the second quarter of 2017 - and 189 mothers smoked throughout their pregnancy, 10.5 per cent of the total.

The figures from NHS Dorset refer to its commissioning area. The total is down from 11.9 per cent in the same period last year.

The NHS wants to reduce the number of mothers who smoke while pregnant to six per cent - a target which was revised down from 11 per cent earlier this year.

Smoking during pregnancy has been steadily decreasing in recent years, down from 12.3 per cent four years ago.

Pregnant smokers have been one of the key targets of the Department of Health's tobacco strategy, because of the risk of serious health complications for both mother and child.

When a woman smokes during pregnancy, it restricts the flow of oxygen to the unborn child, which can lead to complications during labour, increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth.

The figures show 11 per cent of mothers in England smoked at the time of delivery - up slightly from 10.8 per cent in the previous quarter of 2017, and significantly higher than the NHS target. The England figure has been decreasing year on year since records began, down from 15 per cent in 2006.

There is also wide regional variation in the figures - the NHS region with the highest number of smoking mothers was Cumbria and the North East, with 15.8 per cent of all births - more than three times the rate in London, where just 5.1 per cent of babies were born to mothers who smoke.

Blackpool has highest rate of smoking mothers in the country, where more than one in four women smoked throughout their pregnancy, according to the latest figures.

Smoking is more common among pregnant women from disadvantaged groups, according to the Department of Health.

Children who grow up with a smoking parent are also more likely to become smokers themselves.

Linda Bauld, University of Stirling professor and co-chairman of the Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group, said: "We welcomed the announcements from Government last week that there would be further investment in training for midwives to support smoking cessation but more must be done to address the big variation in performance between areas.

"We know there are local challenges but we can learn from the places getting it right and ensure world class support is available to all."