Mother's Day came early for 23 teenagers at Downton School, Lesley Bates reports.

YOU remember Living Doll, Cliff Richard's first number one single in 1959? No? Too young?

Well, what about the second time Living Doll got to be top of the pops, in 1986, when Cliff recorded a charity single with The Young Ones? How did it go?

Got myself a cryin', talkin', sleepin', walkin', living doll

Got to do the best to please her just because she's a living doll.....

At sweet 16, or thereabouts, it's unlikely that the Year 10 and 11 girls in Annette Vinall's child development class at Downton School remember the song first or second time round, but they certainly found out just what it was like to have a living doll of their own for a few days earlier this month.

Each was handed a RealCare Baby (hired from a company called Life Choice) at 2.30pm on a Thursday afternoon to care for, as though it was the real thing, for the weekend.

Just like a real baby, these baby dolls cry when they need attention - and it was up to "mum" to decide whether feeding, burping, rocking or nappy changing was the answer.

Virtual babies also give a verdict on mum's performance.

Not only can these clever little babies report (via a computer printout) whether attention was prompt and adequate, but they could also tell whether they were being handled roughly, held in a position they did not like, or if their heads were not properly supported.

And all those who thought bringing up baby was a doddle were in for a rude awakening - quite literally, as baby woke up every few hours throughout Thursday, Friday and Saturday, disrupting social life, school lessons and sleep.

I caught up with some of the girls to find out what they had learned from their time as gymslip mums.

Each had named their babies: Becky Randall (15) had Melissa, Tara Wilson (16) had Megan-Louise, Rachel Halski (15) Ozzie, Cara Bromage (16) Joey and Kayleigh Witt (15) had Sammy who, she informed me, also had "an auntie, a godmother and everything".

The babies were a mix of gender and ethnic origin - leading some of the girls to experience the double-tut effect of baleful looks from people shocked to see a) such young mothers, and b) babies who were black, mixed race or Asian.

"I had some very weird looks, especially with a black baby," said Tara.

Kayleigh said they rapidly got into the routine of feeding and nappy changing, although most had at least one rough night.

"If you didn't feed them, they'd scream. It was a nightmare," said Cara, who slept downstairs with her baby so that she did not disturb the rest of the family.

Rachel agreed. "I only got two hours sleep."

"Mine was greedy as well," said Kayleigh. "It ate and ate and ate."

Cara was convinced she'd got a fussy baby and poor Becky said she was too tired even to lose her temper.

All the girls became very attached to their babies and found motherhood had its rewards.

"I was very proud when mine cooed," confessed Kayleigh.

Babies went to the park and the swings, to family get-togethers and one was even taken to an interview for a Saturday job, but on Sunday morning, they switched themselves off and on Monday, like reluctant aunts, the girls handed them back.

Teacher Annette Vinall is delighted with the response of her pupils - and the parents who supported them.

"So much has come out of it for all the children in the school, not just the ones involved," she said.

"The whole school was abuzz.

"Some of the girls changed - one who is very bubbly and flighty suddenly became very calm and patient - and I think it's made them appreciate the fact that they couldn't do it alone and need support," she said.

"All the girls had my phone number and several called.

"One Year 11 phoned me several times, really stressed and in a temper, saying "Why is that I've got to fit round my baby's life?"

"I thought that was very telling."

As one parent wrote in: "It has put our daughter off having a baby for a long time!"