Britain needs an extra 10,000 midwives, according to a report released yesterday.

Dame Karlene Davies, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said: "We had hoped that midwifery recruitment and retention was further down the road to recovery.

"But there are still too few midwives in parts of the UK, and the rate of entry to the profession remains slow.

"Increased action and support for midwifery is urgently needed and an extra 10,000 midwives are required to repair the shortages, tackle long-term vacancy rates and relieve the heavy workloads and stress on those currently in post."