More than three-quarters of bosses would not take on a woman recruit if they knew she would fall pregnant within six months of starting a job, a survey revealed.

The findings come in the wake of newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky telling her employers she was expecting her first baby just six weeks into her new job.

Manchester-based Employment Law Advisory Services commissioned the survey of 1100 company bosses and personnel managers after finding it was dealing with an increase in the number of cases involving pregnancy and new employees.

These included cases where candidates were asked in interview if they had plans for a family - something banned under sex discrimination law - and jobs withdrawn between interview and starting the post because of a pregnancy.

The UK-wide survey of male and female bosses and personnel managers found that during the selection process 52% will weigh up the chances of a candidate getting pregnant, taking into account age and whether they have just got married - although a direct question to a perspective member of staff cannot be asked.

The ELAS survey found 68% would like more rights to quiz candidates about their plans for a family. Only 5% of the bosses have employed someone knowing the candidate is pregnant and 86% said they would feel cheated if someone started a job and announced within weeks they were pregnant.

A total of 76% said they would not take on a new recruit if they knew they were going to fall pregnant within six months of starting.