MOTHERS and mothers-to-be are urged to mark Mother's Day on Sunday by giving up smoking.

Brandon and Deerness Valley Sure Start runs drop-in anti-smoking clinics for women at its centre in Ushaw Moor on Wednesdays.

One session, from 11am to 1pm, is for mothers-to-be and was set up to tackle the area's high level of pregnant smokers and large number of low-weight births.

Midwife Debra Wright, who is trained to help people stop smoking, said every pregnant woman who had come to the sessions had successfully quit.

She said: "The sooner a pregnant smoker quits, the better the outcome for mother and baby. There is lots of evidence to suggest that giving up smoking in pregnancy has enormous benefits for both mother and baby.

"Statistics show that infant mortality, the death of the baby either at birth or through a miscarriage, is 50 per cent higher when the mother smokes.

"Children of smokers are two-and-a-half times more likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome, or cot death.

"The good news is that if you stop smoking by the fourth month of pregnancy, you can significantly reduce these dangers."

A session for other women is held on Wednesdays from 12.30 to 2pm. To join the clinics, call 0191-373 4844.