A Sussex woman who had twin sons at the age of 17 has been crowned the South's Single Mum of the Year.

Christina Welch from Bognor - a twin herself - rose to the challenge when she found out she was having twins.

Other mothers at her antenatal class became impressed with her positive attitude and how quickly she established a strict routine after the identical twin boys, Jordan and Tyler, were born at 38 weeks by caesarean.

Even when her relationship with the babies' father broke down shortly after their birth, Christina coped with her two babies more cheerfully than many couples coped with one.

She never bemoaned the loss of her teenage social life but created a new one, organising get-togethers and picnics with the parents and babies from her class.

Her boys, who are now two, have thrived.

"I don't have much money but a trip to the park or an afternoon painting costs nothing," says Christina, now 19.

She was nominated for the That's Life! awards by her sister, Samantha, 23.