A GROUP of young mothers have put on a play to let teenagers know what life is really like with a baby -- in a bid to cut down the number of unplanned pregnancies in Bolton.

The Bolton Realistic Advised Teenage Support Group (BRATS) has put on a production about teenage pregnancy, called Life, at the Octagon Theatre.

BRATS is a voluntary organisation made up of local teenage mums who are trying to get the message across to young people through drama.

They were inspired to produce their own play after seeing a professional show at the Octagon called SCORE, which looked at attitudes to conception, pregnancy and young parents.

The young mums are putting together an educational package which they will take around local schools and youth groups in an attempt to cut the number of unplanned pregnancies in Bolton.

Ginny Edgar, a community development officer with project organiser the East Bolton Regeneration Programme, said: "The play has an interesting and realistic plot focusing on situations that the girls have been through."

Figures for 2001 showed that Bolton had 52 teenage pregnancies per 1,000 of the population -- compared with a national average of 45. The Government wants to see the number of teenage pregnancies in Bolton halved by 2010.

For further information about the play, contact BRATS on 01204 334410.