Twenty-five Furness students had the problems of parenthood cracked in 1987 – by going to work on an egg.

For two weeks, each of the students at Barrow College of Further Education, would  be nursing, feeding and cuddling a hard-boiled egg.

Under the dir-egg-tion of social care tutor Pamela Wilkinson, they were busy learning the problems and pitfalls of being mums and dads.

The only difference from the real thing was that the ‘babies’ would probably get eaten at the end of the course.

The aim of the project, according to Pam, was to bring home to the students, aged between 16 and 18, the realities of parenthood.

“The eggs must be looked after night and day for two weeks and the students are encouraged to set their alarm clock for 2am to simulate the middle of the night feed for baby,” she said.

“The students at first thought it was ridiculous, but now have joined in enthusiastically – including three young men.”

Pam got the idea after watching the Australian soap-opera Neighbours, which had a similar project going on in the story.

Reaction from the students, who would keep diaries of the project, had been quite favourable. Pam Davies, of Cherry Tree Avenue, Ulverston, said “It really is good, and the 2am call will teach us what it is really like to be a parent.”

Broughton student Jackie Warwick was enjoying the project and her mother thought it would make the students think about the responsibilities of parenthood.

Jackie’s brother had even offered to ‘egg sit.’

Another student, Alison Horne, 16, of Romney Park, Dalton, said at first she thought it was a strange way of learning about looking after a baby – but she now thought it is a great way of helping to understand about parental responsibility.

In 1993 The Mail was at another Furness educational establishment – Parkview School in Barrow - to record all the action at the year 7 and 8 sports day.