The mother of a pregnant 12-year-old girl from Sussex today vowed to support her daughter and the baby.

Amy Crowhurst became pregnant after meeting a 15-year-old boy at her local leisure centre.

She is refusing to reveal the identity of the boy but has decided to keep the baby.

Today her mother Rosemary Crowhurst, who has four boys and five girls, aged from 21 years to five months, said she was at first furious with her daughter, who is five months pregnant and expecting on March 11.

But now she is preparing for the arrival of the baby at the family home in Bewbush, Crawley.

Ms Crowhurst, 42, a single mother, said: "When I first heard about Amy's pregnancy I was absolutely furious. I lost my head for a couple of hours. I just couldn't believe what was happening.

"I calmed down and started sorting things out for the future. Amy is going to carry on with the pregnancy and she and I will bring the baby up together.

"Amy really does not understand fully what is going on. She is only 12. She's still at that giggly stage where all she wants to do is go out shopping with her friends. It has not hit her yet."

Amy, a pupil at Thomas Bennett School in Tilgate, Crawley, was reluctant to discuss her situation. She said simply that she had told the father about the pregnancy but again refused to reveal his identity.

Asked how she felt about being pregnant she said: "I am shocked."

Her mother pledged to defend her daughter against any criticisms.

She said: "It does not matter how much advice you give your children, In the end it's up to them to act upon it.

"Amy is not fully developed yet and I don't think she understood the implications of what she was doing.

"She's had sex education but when someone that young is put in that situation for the first time it can be very hard. It's all new to them.

"I will defend my daughter if I hear anybody criticising her. It's all a bit hard to take in at the moment. I am sure everyone is blaming the parents.

"She has not told me who the father is and I'm not going to push it. I know she will in time. He has not been round here to say he is sorry."

Amy has been offered home tutoring by her school but is expected to return to the classroom in the future.

Ms Crowhurst said social services had decided not to place Amy on the at-risk register and would not be offering her any financial support.

"It is up to me to claim on her behalf," Ms Crowhurst said.