Four Kent hospitals are set for a windfall as part of a £25m NHS handout to boost maternity care.

Darent Valley in Dartford, QEQM in Margate, the William Harvey in Ashford and Medway Maritime are to get a share of the pot being divided between 100 hospitals in England, it's been revealed.

The cash will go towards new birthing pools, more family rooms for dads to sleep over and extra midwife-led units.

It comes after the Royal College of Midwifes warned earlier this week that maternity services across the UK were at a "tipping point", with 5,000 fewer midwives than the NHS needs to cope with a baby boom.

Women in England, it said, had 688,120 babies in 2011, which was the highest level for 40 years.

The Royal College of Midwives chief executive Cathy Warwick said the cash injection was great news for hospitals.

She added: "I think there's not a lot of money aroiund at the moment, and I think heads of midwifery, who have been struggling to make bids for better facilities will be absolutely delighted to get this money.

"This money was announced a little while ago. What we are now hearing is which bids are going to be funded.

"I think this money, and the projects that are being funded, will make a really big difference to the care that they (mothers) receive."