Researchers are to recruit Bradford mums-to-be for a study into a condition which kills three babies a week in the United Kingdom.

Biomedical research charity the Wellcome Trust is funding the £1.3 million study into pre-eclampsia, which can be life-threatening for babies and their mothers.

Bradford is one of ten centres across the country where expectant mothers at high risk of developing pre-eclampsia will be asked if they want to take part in the research.

The condition damages blood vessels and can cause fits, strokes or injuries to the mother's lungs, liver and kidneys. Reduced blood flow to the baby can cause slow growth or death.

It leads to between 7,000 and 12,000 premature UK births a year. Many of the babies have health problems. Most women recover but worldwide about 40,000 a year die because of it.

Derek Tuffnell, consultant obstetrician at Bradford Royal Infirmary, said the new study was based on early research work by baby charity Tommy's, which showed taking vitamins C and E could cut the rate of the condition by more than half. Nationwide, researchers are looking for 2,400 women who are at least 14 weeks pregnant and suffering from high blood pressure, kidney problems or diabetes.

"In Bradford we will recruit women at high risk of pre-eclampsia early in pregnancy, between 14 and 24 weeks. Half will be given vitamins C and E while half get dummy tablets so we can see if it really makes a difference," said Mr Tuffnell said.

He said they would be trying to recruit between 200 and 250 expectant mums over a 20-month period. Between one and three per cent of the 5,500 babies born each year in Bradford will be affected by the condition.

A midwife had been seconded to work part-time on the stud, he added.

Professor Lucilla Poston, of Tommy's Foetal and Maternal Health Team, said: "Until now we have been unable to treat this condition effectively but this study gives us the opportunity to make a huge difference."