A MUM-OF-eight shared her harrowing life story at the launch of a new council scheme to help deprived families.

Rose, not her real name, is helping to front Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Think Family project to improve the lives of families across the borough.

The scheme, aims to work with up to 30 'high risk' families in Bastwell, Shadsworth and Darwen.

Rose’s family is one of many in the borough who the council is hoping to help with its new approach.

Born to a prostitute in Styal Prison, the 37-year-old’s life has been difficult.

Suffering neglect from an early age, she was systematically sexually and physically abused by her own father.

At the age of 12 she was expelled from school and was sent away to boarding school but returned home every weekend where she was subjected to abuse.

She first tried to take her own life with an overdose aged 15 and attempted suicide again when her best friend was murdered years later.

She even set her house on fire with her baby in her arms in a bid to win back the boyfriend who left her for a prostitute.

And her story doesn't end there as she went on to have her children removed from her care by police after false allegations were made against her by a disgruntled ex.

And the final straw came after she suffered the loss of her five-month old twin boy who died from cot death.

Rose, who lives in Blackburn, stars in a DVD produced by Blackburn with Darwen Council which was shown at the launch in Blakewater College, in a bid to share her story with others.

She said: “I was really keen to get onboard and help with this. I’ve had a lot of support over the years.

“Without that support and without my children I don’t think I would be here today to tell my story. Things can always be improved and I think this is one big step towards doing that.”

The Think Family approach aims to identify families at risk to provide support at the earliest opportunity and strengthen the ability of family members to provide care and support to each other.