GRIEF over the loss of her twins at nine weeks into preganancy led Catherine Nicholson to seek support from other women who have been through the same experience.

She found so much help from them she has agreed to pose nude as Miss June in a calendar to raise money and awareness for the Miscarriage Association.

Although the 21-year-old’s pregnancy was unplanned it did not lessen the trauma when she lost the babies.

She said: “It was horrible.

“No one knows quite what to say, whether to talk about it or not to say anything.

“The doctors said it was possibly to do with my blood type which is rhesus negative but because it is my first one you have to have three or four miscarriages in a year before they look into it which means you have to go through this emotional turmoil another two or three times before they will even look at you.

“The fact that it was unplanned doesn’t make it any easier.

“A few days later I Googled miscarriages and I just wanted to see if there was somebody that understood to talk to.”

Catherine, who will be pictured pruning a rose bush in the calendar, added: “I went on Facebook and the group of women I have been talking to are just the best group of women I have ever spoken to.

“I couldn’t fault them – they have always been there and they completely understand what I have been talking about. If I have a bad day they are always there for you, they are just brilliant.

“I am not quite sure how the idea for a calendar started.

“We were just joking around about it then one of them finally decided we were actually going to do this.”

About 15 women are to take part in the project with a photographer in Essex. They are going to meet for a week to have the pictures taken.

Each will also have a temporary tattoo of little butterflies on their arms for the number of children they have lost.

She said: “People just brush it over and think it is a minor thing and the more we can get awareness out there and money raised the better.

“We have bared our souls to each other and now we are baring ourselves to you so if you could bring yourself to help us please donate and give us the confidence to bare all.”

Her fundraising page is at justgiving.com/catherine-nicholson0 or call 01297 445865 or 07425 148429.