BEING offered shopping vouchers is more likely to make pregnant women quit smoking, according to a new study.

More than 600 women over the age of 16 were assessed to see what would help them to get rid of the habit.

Half of the women were offered the standard NHS procedure to quit smoking while the other half were offered the same thing as well as up to £400 worth of shopping vouchers.

It is estimated that treating smoking-related issues in mothers costs the NHS up to £64million a year.

Of the women who were offered shopping vouchers, 23% of them had given up smoking.

The Evening Times went out on the streets of Glasgow to find out how people feel about pregnant women being given shopping vouchers if they quit smoking.

Megan Armstrong, 18, a student from Cumbernauld, said: "I think it's a good idea, if it will encourage these pregnant women to stop smoking then why not do it?

"It will give them some money to spend on things they need during the pregnancy or for when the baby is born."

Sandra Low, of Glasgow, said: "I don't think that it's a good idea, why should the government being given out many for these women to go and spend just so they stop smoking."

Martin Petrov, 24, of Hillhead, said: "I think it would be more beneficial if the vouchers were for an actual brand instead of a shop like Argos, it would make it easier for the mothers to buy thing specifically for the baby.

"Maybe they should do it with a company like Nicorette and it could work that way."

Anne Steele, from Giffnock, said: "Pregnant women should be able to stop smoking without the help of the government or any money. They shouldn't be smoking in the first place."

Ryan Martin, 20, of Paisley, works at Home Fundraising and believes the government shouldn't help.

He said: "They should be stopping smoking themselves as soon as they get pregnant.

"It's not just themselves they have to look out for, they will be harming their child unborn child as well.

"It shouldn't be up to the government to make them stop smoking."

John Allan, 69, of Springburn, said: "It's a great idea although I'm not sure if they should actually be giving them money.

"But if it works then it's definitely worth it."