GOUROCK school pupils suffered sleepless nights after the stark realities of parenthood were brought to life for them using virtual babies.

The lifelike dolls - which cry, eat and sleep - were looked after by S4 and S5 pupils from the St Columba's Senior Phase group.

It is a part of a qualification run by Inverclyde Council's community learning and development youth work services which aims to teach the young people valuable life lessons.

Beth Doherty, of the CLD team, said the project has been an eye opener for the pupils, who have also learned about domestic abuse, positive relationships, team building and key life skills.

She said: "This is about providing the pupils with a different qualification, additionally to what they have got.

"The pupils are identified by the school, that this would be better for them so they gain a community achievement award.

"They get to choose what projects they want to do."

Beth said the pupils were keen to get an insight into the reality of looking after a baby.

She said: "It shows them the reality of having a baby such as the costs and how it can change your whole life.

"They took the babies home so it was challenging for them.

"I had texts at 3am from them saying they were so tired."

Beth says the project has given the teens a real insight into the challenges of parenthood.

She added: "Babies are brilliant and they are cute but this gives them the reality of what it's like to care for one - getting up during the night and the sleep deprivation and how much nurture a baby actually needs.

"They also learned about the costs for things like nappies."

Pupil Myrran McKenna, 15, said: "It was ok at the start but then it would start screaming as I was putting it to bed.

"I felt tired after the weekend."

Rebecca Lever, 15, added: "This was good and teaches you about real life."