IT smells like a baby, it weighs as much as a baby, and it certainly cries like a baby - but teachers hope that a doll will put youngsters off having their own children straight away.

Prudhoe Community High School, in Northumberland, has bought two fake newborn infants for £220 each.

Last weekend, they were taken home by 15-year-olds Lizzie Wraith and Marty Wiseman and the dolls were able to tell tales on their novice parents through internal sensors, which recorded all their mistakes.

Marty's mother, Myra, said: "I think it does make people think about the responsibility of having a baby and actually having to see it every time it cries."

Paul Bannister, head of Year 11, said the aim was to reduce teenage pregnancies, which are a problem in this area.

More than 70 pupils have shown an interest in the project and 30 have already signed up