More than one in five mums are smoking during their pregnancy in Hyndburn, shocking new figures reveal.

Around 930 pregnant mums last year were smoking while carrying their unborn child, according to Lancashire County Council (LCC) figures.

The figure – the equivalent of 20.6 per cent – is higher than both the Lancashire and England averages.

Health campaigners said the figures are ‘shocking’ and a ‘major concern’. Jean Battle, who is chairman of the patient participation group at Peel House in Accrington, said more needed to be done to warn parents about the dangers of smoking during pregnancy.

The mum-of-three said: “Smoking in general is a bad idea and doing it while pregnant isn’t clever at all.

“Unfortunately you are never going to stop people doing what they want.

“I think the dangers need to be highlighted more and maybe that will frighten them into thinking again.”

The rate of low birth weights is also higher in the borough than the English average, with nearly eight per cent of babies weighing less than 2.5kg - just around five and a half pounds.

Amanda Sandford, of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said pregnant mums who smoke are placing ‘huge health burdens’ on themselves and their unborn children.

She said: “It’s a major concern because there’s a risk to the mother and an increased risk of premature birth and membrane disruption to the baby.

“It increases the chances of babies being born preterm and not at full weight.

“Pregnancy smoking places a huge health burden on both the mum and the unborn child.”

Hyndburn councillor Pam Barton, cabinet member for health, said the figures were ‘not good’ and called on all agencies to work together to highlight the dangers.

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, director of public health for Lancashire County Council, said 18 per cent of mums in East Lancashire continue to smoke while pregnant.

This compares with 12 per cent across the whole country. He said: “It’s important we do all we can to ensure children and young people across Lancashire stay healthy and that they get a good start in life.

“We are running a campaign to encourage them to quit.

“We’ve also run general ‘stop smoking’ campaigns and encouraged people to sign a pledge to keep their homes smoke-free.

“This is a scheme run through children’s centres across Hyndburn and throughout Lancashire.

“We will continue to work with other organisations to improve young people’s health in Hyndburn and across the county.”

For more information on the campaign call East Lancashire Quit Squad on 0800 328 6297.