A MOTHER from Benfleet who had her first child aged 15 is appearing in MTV’s television show Teen Mums UK.

Leanne Dove, now 38, from Benfleet, Essex, said:”Becoming a teen mum made me the person I am today as I was out to prove that no matter what life throws at you - you can just deal with it.

“It is a testing journey but as a teenager, you just get on with it.”

The show comes after research suggested one in five mothers believe they had a baby “too late” in life as a study reveals 26 as the perfect age to have a little one.

Researchers surveyed 2,000 mums aged 18 and upwards and found many regret not having a child when they were younger.

More than half who feel this way believe they struggled to keep up with their little one due to their age.

The poll, which identified 26 as the perfect age to become a first-time mother, was commissioned by MTV for the new series of Teen Mom UK, which airs on Wednesdays at 8pm on MTV.

It also emerged one in eight of those who wish they’d became a mum earlier would have liked to have been closer in age to their offspring - so they could have gone clubbing together.

And nearly a quarter felt “very aware” of the difference in age between themselves and other new mothers.

To find out more about the show and Leanne visit http://www.mtv.co.uk/teen-mom-uk