A Maidstone foster mum has warned against drinking during pregnancy as a new survey suggests women are ignoring Government guidelines.

A report in January advised mums-to-be to eliminate alcohol throughout their pregnancies but a recent study revealed 40% have continued to drink.

Infants if exposed to alcohol whilst in the womb can potentially suffer from a range of physical, mental and behavioural difficulties. They are known collectively as Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD.)

Michelle Slater runs a support group in Maidstone for those affected by FASD. She said: "I received a referral for a child a few years back. I was told he had Feotal Alcohol Syndrome.

"I had never heard about it before so I did a lot of research and I was put in touch with a support group in Folkestone. It became a cause quite close to my heart"

Michelle describes how the condition affects her seven-year-old. "He is still very young and he struggles with memory. He's been very late to develop. He has trouble with putting his shoes and socks on and bathing.

"He is still very much the age of three and four."

He now attends a specialist school and whilst he is aware of the condition he does not understand it fully.

The support group is a place where their children can play together and parents can get together to share their experiences.

Michelle is keen to stress that expectant mothers who have concerns should not be worried about any stigma and urged them to contact their GP or midwife for advice.

She said: "There's no known safe amount of alcohol to drink whilst pregnant and FASD is totally preventable. It is the only birth defect that is preventable.

"If you do not drink alcohol you have no chance of having a child affected by FASD."