FIGHTING back the tears, friends and family of a group of teenage mums watched on as the girls performed a heart-wrenching short play about their real-life struggles.

The members of Bolton’s Young Mums Unit worked with the Octagon Theatre to create the piece which they showcased in the Market Place Shopping Centre.

They told how falling pregnant had affected them and their families, talking about the negative stereotypes they face, the love for their children and their hopes for the future.

The performance culminated with the group of seven holding up photographs of themselves with their children, while heartfelt recordings were played, with some of the girls and their families coming close to tears.

Georgia Greenhalgh, aged 16, mum to Mia May, aged 19 months, said: “It was amazing. We just want to show everyone that you don’t need to judge. Just looking at you like you’re nothing.

“It’s nice to let it all out and let people see we are not all that bad. It’s been amazing and everyone who’s helped us has been amazing.”

Georgia, from Astley Bridge, has plans to go to college to study health and social care.

Speaking of being a young mum, she said: “It’s very difficult but it’s the best thing in the world.”

Sophie Buckley, aged 16, mum to two-year-old Saffron; Brittany Floyd, aged 16, mum to five-month-old Jasmine Winton; Kara McGowan, aged 16, mum to two-month-old Lexii; Candice Taylor, aged 16, mum to four-month-old Romeya Allred; Samantha Farrell, aged 16, mum to Jack Junior Farrell-Bent, aged 17 months; and mum-to-be Courtney Jennings, aged 15, whose baby is due in December, also took part in the performance.

The young mums also created an art exhibition as part of the project, which was made possible thanks to money from The Big Lottery Fund and saw the girls work with the Octagon’s learning and participation department. Gemma Morris, who works at the Young Mums Unit, said: “We’ve been working on this project since March.

“We made it because stereotypes have always been one of the things girls have to deal with, being young mums. They often come into the unit being upset with the looks they get and the comments.

“They wanted to do something about it, they are educated and they love their kids. It definitely helps their confidence and self-esteem, they have grown in character. It’s just to open the public’s eyes to say, don’t judge them.”