Revealed: Unexplained baby deaths in Black Country among highest in West Midlands

Some 74 died from 2004 to 2013 - including 19 in each of Walsall, Wolverhampton and Sandwell, and 17 in Dudley.

Only Birmingham, Coventry and Stoke were higher.

And the number of deaths per 1,000 babies in the regions was higher than the national average.

The deaths include cot deaths and those where the exact cause is not known.

There 68 unexplained deaths in Birmingham during that period, 24 in Coventry and 23 in Stoke.

And there were four in Cannock Chase, and just one in Stafford, with six in Wyre Forest.

Health chiefs say they have launched a number of initiatives to educate parents and reduce cot deaths.

Meanwhile new national figures reveal 2013 saw the first rise in unexplained infant deaths since 2008.

There were 249 unexplained infant deaths, up from 234 the year before, and at a rate of 0.36 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Some 65 per cent of these deaths were recorded as sudden infant deaths, and 35 per cent were recorded as 'unascertained' - where no other cause of death is recorded.

Unexplained infant deaths accounted for nine per cent of all infant deaths occurring in 2013.

And 55 per cent of all unexplained infant deaths were boys in 2013 (138 deaths) compared with 64 per cent in 2012 (150 deaths).

The largest monthly rise in unexplained infant deaths was in February 2013 - which researchers say coincided with a colder than average monthly temperature.

The ONS said two risk factors for unexplained infant death are overheating and an unsafe sleeping environment, such as the baby's head being covered. They said these may be more likely to occur during cold weather when extra clothing or blankets are used and central heating is on at night.

In 2012 the figure dipped to a low of 234, but in 2004 there were 317 deaths.

Jyoti Atri, Sandwell Council's director of public health, said: "We review every child death in Sandwell together with our partners, including health services and the police.

"Any child death is tragic – so we look closely at any learning from each case to help reduce the risk of it happening to others.

"This is done through a multi-agency panel as part of our safeguarding work.

"Together, we have responded with initiatives such as our Safer Sleeping campaign, which is helping to steadily reduce cot deaths in Sandwell.

"Health visitors raise awareness of safer sleeping practices on their first visit to new parents, including asking to see where the baby will be sleeping and giving them a free room thermometer.

"We recognise the higher risk for babies born to mums under 20, including lifestyle risk factors such as smoking and drinking alcohol. We have improved our stop smoking services for mums and seen a large increase in the number of pregnant women taking up our services.

"We're also rolling out a home safety campaign aimed at children.

"We are planning further work with the Clinical Commissioning Group and other partners to see what else we can do to reduce infant mortality."

The Lullaby Trust, which campaigns to raise awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, said the figures were concerning.

Chief executive Francine Bates said: "Sudden infant death is devastating for families and we are deeply concerned to see that the number of unexplained deaths has risen in 2013, the first increase in five years.

"It is shocking that the UK has one of the highest infant death rates in Europe. We call on Government and all agencies to urgently develop a national strategy to reduce these deaths and reinforce safer sleep messages to all parents, especially young parents."