Naomi Thwaite, of Oldham, Greater Manchester, has found out the hard way how parenthood can get in the way of a normal childhood.

She now takes part in a scheme at the town's Brook Clinic which uses the experiences of teenage mums to warn other youngsters.

It is part of a number of measures aimed at tackling juvenile pregnancy rates in the North West - which are among the highest in the country.

When you're a teenage mum you've got to prove to the whole world that you're a fantastic mother because people are just sitting and waiting to judge you"

Naomi Thwaite

Health experts believe the best way of communicating with teenage girls is through young mums not much older than them.

Lessons are given to youngsters on assertiveness and ensuring that pregnancy is a choice, not an accident.

Naomi, now aged 17 and mother to three-year-old Tiffany, has had to cope with sleepless nights and boring evenings.

She helps out at the Chadderton Youth Centre giving advice to young mothers.

She told the BBC that teenage pregnancy was to be avoided.

She said: "You just lose your freedom and it's not nice when you're a teenager because you're trying to grow up yourself but you've got to grow up so fast and be an adult.

"On top of that, when you're a teenage mum you've got to prove to the whole world that you're a fantastic mother and you never make mistakes because people are just sitting and waiting for you to make a mistake, to judge you."