TOO much remains unknown about stillbirth and more research is urgently needed if the rate is to be reduced, a leading charity has said.

The Take That singer/songwriter Gary Barlow revealed on Monday night that he and his wife Dawn had lost their daughter, Poppy, after eight months of pregnancy.

Janet Scott, head of research for Sands – the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society – said: "We want more money to go into research across the UK. There is too much that is not known about babies that die in the womb.

"We need improved ante-natal care to detect babies who are in trouble. The majority of unexplained stillbirths are happening in low risk pregnancies."

She said poor growth in the womb is "very strongly correlated" with stillbirth.

Ms Scott added: "In unexplained stillbirths, there's probably something wrong with the placenta.

"But there's too little known about it and we don't have the tools for detecting poor function of the placenta."

In Scotland, the latest figures have revealed that the rate of stillbirths and neonatal mortality has dropped to 4.9% per 1000. This is the lowest on record and is below that in England and Wales. However, Ms Scott said: "Because Scotland has a small population, we're cautious about that."

Rebecca McQuillan