An ambitious plan to recruit an extra 3,000 midwives will be unveiled this week by the health secretary.

Jeremy Hunt has said the move could save the lives of 700 babies a year.

Under his scheme, which he spoke about in an interview with the Mail on Sunday, by 2025 all pregnant women would have one midwife from their 20-week scan through to their baby's birth.

In the interview, he said: ''Particularly for a first-time mum, having a baby is often the biggest moment in their lives.

'I want mums to have dedicated midwives who can get to know them personally and oversee their whole journey from pregnancy to labour to new parent.

'It can transform results for mothers and babies.

'Probably the most horrific thing that can happen in hospital is when a baby dies because of an avoidable mistake.

'When I speak to such parents, it shakes me to the core to think it could have been my kids.'

Mr Hunt plans to recruit 650 midwives next year, increasing to a total of 3,000 over four years.

The cost of the scheme is an estimated £75m a year.