A NEW leader has been appointed in charge of a novel scheme to cut teenage pregnancy by getting youngsters to face up to the consequences of having a baby.

Christine Goodman is now in charge of the Virtual Baby project which uses a realistic looking, feeling, smelling doll of a newborn baby that demands care like the real thing.

The dolls are used in schools across in Blackburn and Darwen and given to agencies who work with young people such as Brook.

Christine said: "The project is a useful tool in engaging young people and starting discussions on a wide range of topics and issues.

"It also gives the participants the opportunity to experience what life might be like caring for a newborn baby.

"The Virtual Baby will wake up at the most inopportune moments - just as you're going to sleep, or just as you're trying to eat a meal.

"It will need feeding, have its nappy changed and need winding. It will need rocking and comforting and need to be handled with care so as not to hurt or damage it."

Christine, who works for Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust, is planning to compile a study of how well the project is working.

She added: "The project has been piloted for the last 12 months. Despite its successes it still has a substantial amount of work to do to engage the most vulnerable young people."