NEW mum and former Coronation Street star Tina O’Brien has teamed up with Smokefree North West to encourage Wirral mums-to-be and their partners to quit smoking.

Tina - who quit smoking when she found out she was expecting her baby daughter Scarlett - took part in mother and baby a photoshoot to help raise awareness of the risks associated with smoking during pregnancy.

Every cigarette smoked by a pregnant woman restricts the essential oxygen supply to her baby, so that its tiny heart has to beat harder every time its mother smokes.

The good news is that stopping smoking will benefit the baby immediately and after two days of being smokefree, the nicotine leaves the body.

Tina shot to fame as Coronation Street’s Sarah Platt and had baby Scarlett to Ryan Thomas, who plays Jason Grimshaw in the soap.

She said: "As someone who used to smoke, I know how difficult it is to kick the habit but there is plenty of free help available.

"Stopping smoking during pregnancy is the single most important step any mother can take to benefit her wellbeing and her baby's health.

"By supporting this campaign, I want to make mums–to-be aware that stopping smoking - no matter how far along in pregnancy - can have immediate benefits to their baby.

"Scarlett is the most precious baby in the world to me.

"She’s the reason I quit and it’s because of her that I’ll stay smokefree."

Andrea Crossfield, director of Smokefree North West, said: "It’s great to have Tina’s backing for this campaign.

"I hope she can help inspire other mums and dads-to-be to kick the habit and remain smokefree too.

"It can be a particularly difficult time to stop smoking during pregnancy.

"Many women feel they need to hide their smoking because they feel guilty or embarrassed about being judged, which can make them reluctant to ask for help quitting.

"It can take some smokers several attempts to get off cigarettes for good.

"We want expectant parents to know that there is plenty of help on offer."

Mums-to-be who want their baby to grow in a smokefree environment, can contact the NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 9 169 for free help and advice.

Last year, 2,987 pregnant women in the region successfully stopped smoking with the NHS Stop Smoking Service.