A report published showed that one in four North Lincolnshire mums are harming their babies by smoking through pregnancy.

Although this study was carried out in a small area, it could be a reflection of the whole country.

Last year, 520 mums who gave birth at Scunthorpe General Hospital (SGH) had been smoking while pregnant.The revelation has outraged mums and health workers who find the figure 'shocking'.

Director of Public Health in North Lincolnshire, Andrew Furber, said the issue was one of the main focuses of concern for 2008 after the Annual Public Health report, released yesterday, flagged it up.

He said: "I find it quite horrendous one in four of the population of North Lincolnshire continue to smoke cigarettes.

"One in four of our pregnant women in North Lincolnshire are smoking at the end of their pregnancy, having an effect on their health and their unborn child."

Smoking during pregnancy can lead to a range of complications and health risks including the baby's birth weight being lower, which increases the risk of dying in the first year of life and of developing diseases later in life.

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For help and support to stop smoking can be found at your GP, local pharmacist or from the NHS Stop Smoking Service on 0845 6032166.