University of Oxford researchers have found that home births may be safer and cheaper for women who already have children.

A study of 64,000 births in England between 2008 and 2010 found that low-risk pregnancies could be delivered at home or at a midwifery unit to save the NHS money without compromising the health of mother and baby.

Births cost an average of £1,142 per woman on an obstetric ward, compared to £780 for a home birth.