TWELVE babies are born with heart defects every day in the UK, according to figures.

Heart problems remain the most common defect at birth and around 6% of these babies will die before their first birthday.

The defects can require major surgery and lengthy stays in hospital and are more common than limb problems, respiratory conditions and facial anomalies such as cleft palate combined.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF), which analysed figures for its new campaign, said the number of children dying from these defects has fallen more than 80% in the past three decades.

The campaign - Fight For Every Heartbeat - aims to raise awareness of the 70,000 children in the UK living with heart defects.

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director at the BHF, said: "Our research is beginning to unravel how some of these defects occur. But there's still a long way to go."

Susie and Duncan Cook's second child, Zoe, now almost two, was born with a hole in her heart. She had surgery last year.

Mrs Cook, 38, said: "I had to call 999 twice before Zoe had her operation because she went grey in her sleep. I just couldn't get my words out on the phone.

"Fortunately the operation was very successful and Zoe's recovered really well."

A 2011 report, from the British Isles Network of Congenital Anomaly Registers (Binocar), found that more than one in 50 babies has some sort of birth defect - almost double the previous estimate. Earlier figures had suggested one in 80 babies suffers a defect, which include Down's syndrome and neural tube defects such as spina bifida.