Eight in 100 pregnant women are still smoking although the figure fell for a sixth year in succession in Bolton.

The borough is above the average for England and for Greater Manchester according to data from the NHS.

The figure for the 12 months to March 2024 of around eight in 100 pregnant women smoking is a lot lower than the figure for the 12 months to March 2018 of around 14 in 100 pregnant women smoking.

In England the ambition is for less than six per cent of expectant mothers to smoke although, ideally, not one expectant mother would smoke due to the harm to the health of the baby before and after birth.

Lynn Donkin, Bolton's Director of Public Health, said: "Over recent years we are seeing reductions in smoking rates amongst expectant mothers thanks to campaigns such as the Greater Manchester Smokefree Pregnancy programme.

"If you are pregnant and living in Bolton your midwife can refer you and your partner to the specialist stop smoking service at Royal Bolton Hospital, where a midwife or a support worker will support you throughout your pregnancy."

(Image: NHS Greater Manchester)

In 2018, NHS Greater Manchester started a Smokefree Pregnancy scheme in partnership with councils and NHS Foundation Trusts.

Across Greater Manchester the proportion of pregnant women smoking is down by almost 40 per cent since the start of the scheme.

Jane Pilkington, NHS Greater Manchester's Director of Population Health, said: "We are thrilled to see such a decrease in smoking at time of delivery.

"This reflects the dedication of our team and, most importantly, the women who quit smoking for their health and their babies' health. We will continue to strive for a future where every pregnancy in Greater Manchester is smokefree."

Some of the risks of pregnant women smoking include premature labour, miscarriage, stillbirth and sudden infant death.

Here is the proportion of pregnant women smoking for the 12 months to March 2024 according to data from the NHS.

NHS Rochdale - 10.3 per cent
NHS Bolton - 8.9 per cent
NHS Oldham - 8.9 per cent
NHS Wigan - 8.8 per cent
NHS Manchester - 7.9 per cent
NHS Bury - 7.5 per cent
NHS Tameside - 6.9 per cent
NHS Salford - 6.7 per cent
NHS Stockport - 5.8 per cent
NHS Trafford - 3.8 per cent

For information go to makesmokinghistory.co.uk or the Smoke Free app.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.