FRESH figures show stop smoking services in north Essex have helped cut the number of women puffing while pregnant for the third year in a row.

During 2011/12, Colchester and Tendring NHS Stop Smoking Service helped 205 pregnant women kick the habit, which is the highest since the service began in 2003.

It is also the highest figure in the east of England.

But the figures still show 17 per cent of pregnant mums are smoking during pregnancy.

Sarah Leach, a specialist advisor for Anglian Community Enterprise, which runs the service, said: “We have worked very hard with the public health team at NHS North Essex and the midwifery services at Colchester Hospital.

“We are happy to see this co-ordinated approach can lead to a reduction in pregnancies affected by tobacco smoke.”