The number of working women who are also mothers has increased significantly over the last 15 years, according to a new report.

The Office for National Statistics showed that in 1996 there was a 5.6 per cent difference in the number of women with and without children. By the end of 2010 this had reduced considerably to 0.8 per cent.

Some of the reasons for this included the detrimental effect of the recent recession, which has led to a reduction in the number of women without children, especially those aged between 16 and 24, being employed.

Also, societal trends are changing the ideas behind what is deemed a conventional age to have children, with more women, possibly because of a focus on careers, are choosing to have children later in life.

The supermodel Claudia Schiffer recently launched a new range of designer cashmere clothes for working mothers at Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris.