YOUNG mothers in Southampton have launched a new video to help prevent teenagers from becoming pregnant.

They hosted the debut screening of the tape It's Your Choice in front of city MP John Denham and social service staff last week.

The video, made by members of Thornhill-based Young Women's Group, will be distributed to schools in the city to warn youngsters of the consequences of falling pregnant.

Three members of the group talk about their own experiences on the 15-minute video.

It was funded by a £2,000 grant from the National Lottery and the city council youth service.

The project was launched by the mothers two years ago as they thought sex education videos in school were not good enough. The group contacted local youth clubs to get teenagers' opinions and asked some to take part in role-playing for it.

Group member Joanne Hamilton-Smith, 21, who has two young children, said: "If this film helps just one young person not to become pregnant, then all of our efforts will have been worthwhile."

Peter Lewis, head of children and young people's division at the city council, said: "This is an excellent piece of work produced by the young women of Thornhill.

"It is a high-quality piece of communication and we will support the group by distributing the video to agencies and schools across Southampton.

"It will help the personal development of young women and enable them to broaden their self-confidence skills."