HUNDREDS of pregnant women are being helped to quit smoking in an initiative that has attracted national recognition.

A specialist smoking advisor has been working with Darlington, Sedgefield and Durham Dales Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to tackle the problem of smoking during and after pregnancy.

Statistics reveal that the North-East has the highest smoking rate in the country, and almost one third of pregnant women smoke until they give birth.

Research has also shown that smoking can restrict foetal development and can cause bleeding, miscarriages, premature and still births and cot deaths.

Beverley Marr, the PCT's smoking advisor, is managing to reach 400 women each year to help them give up smoking, and has recently presented her findings to two conferences, including the UK Smoking Cessation conference in London.

"Pregnant women who continue to smoke often live with partners and family members who smoke and the figures nationally for quitting in pregnancy are not very good," she said.

"It is vital to get the partners and families of pregnant women to quit as well so there is no smoking in the house.

"Many pregnant women are motivated and stop as soon as they realise they are expecting, so the ones that see me are the more problematic smokers."

Mrs Marr sees clients every week, and offers support by telephone and text message. Certificates are presented to new mothers at four and 12 weeks after the birth, and T-shirts are given to babies with slogans including "My mum quit for me" and "Smoke-free baby".

Pregnant smokers and their families can gain more information about quitting by contacting Mrs Marr on (01429) 880888 or 07990 587293.