A midwife is urging people to help mothers and their babies by supporting a concert next month.

Ethel Burns, a research midwife lecturer at Oxford Brookes University's school of health and social care, set up a charity last year to support health workers looking after pregnant women across the world.

It is estimated that every minute at least one woman dies from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth.

To combat the problem, BirthLink sets up projects to share skills with midwives in underdeveloped countries.

So far, the charity is helping workers in Russia, Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia, and is about to help in Vietnam.

Ms Burns said: "In under-developed and, frankly, some developed countries, the care is grim and puts mothers and babies at risk. That's why we wanted to help.

"An awful lot of work goes on around the world, but I don't know of any other organisation that focuses on pregnancy and six weeks after birth.

"Sometimes midwives in these countries feel neglected by their state systems and value a colleague coming over and sharing their skills."

To raise money for their cause, Ms Burns has organised a concert at the Holywell Music Room in Oxford, featuring the Boreas Wind Quintet, on Thursday, July 5, at 8pm.

The programme will include Danzi's Blaserquintett in B, Milhaud's Sonatine for Flute and Piano, and Beethoven's Quintett für Kalvier und Bläser. Tickets, costing £10 each, are available by calling 01865 485296, or emailing ethel@birthlink.org or kathy@birthlink.org