A quarter of all babies in England are delivered by Caesarean section.

One in four babies born in England are still delivered by Caesarean section, around double the figure recommended by the World Health Organisation, figures have shown.

The rate for Caesareans has risen sharply in the last 25 years despite repeated calls for it to be cut.

The Royal College of Midwives has described the number of women undergoing Caesareans as worryingly high.

Research has shown that mothers who have a Caesarean delivery have more than triple the risk of needing a hysterectomy after their next pregnancy.

The operation is also linked to higher risks for the mother and baby, including increased risk of death, blood clots and infant breathing problems.

The World Health Organisation recommends the Caesarean section rate should be no higher than 10% to 15%.

The England Caesarean rate has showed no change in a year, with the rate for 2007/08 remaining at 24.6%.

Tim Straughan, chief executive of The NHS Information Centre, said: "The wide variation in rates of both elective and emergency Caesareans will be of interest to many trusts.

"For some, their rate of Caesarean deliveries will be linked to their area's specific demographic profile or the nature of their intake.

"But others will need to examine closely the full range of reasons why their rate is different from the national average of about one caesarean delivery for every four births."