Stacey Solomon reveals she was told her 'life was over' when she became a mum at 18

Stacey Solomon has revealed the shocking comments she received as a young mum after welcoming a child at the age of 18.

Speaking to Best magazine, Stacey, who gave birth to her first son Zachary in 2008, said that she was told that her life was 'over' because of her decision to have a baby.

When asked if she'd support Zachary and second son Leighton, who was born in 2012, if they wanted to go into show business, the Loose Women regular replied: 'Absolutely. You have to work hard even when people tell you that you can't do it. That's an important life lesson.'

'Yes [people told me that I couldn't do it], especially after having a child at 18.

'People would say they thought my life was over, so I wanted to show them that it wasn't at all. That has always driven me.'

In 2014, Stacey told Now magazine that she'd initially been 'devastated' when she got pregnant at 17, shortly after enrolling herself at college.

'As soon as I told my mum and dad, their reaction was, "That's it, you won't be able to do anything you wanted to do",' she said.

'It felt like all my dreams had been shattered. I didn't want to be pregnant so I didn't act like I was. To me I was just me. I still went out. I was just fatter.'

The X Factor star, who has spoken out about suffering from postnatal depression in the past, continued: 'I had stitches everywhere and I was bleeding. I felt like everything was ruined. I was 18 and didn't want to be a mum.

'I remember lying there thinking, "I've had a baby I suppose". Suddenly I was a mum with massive responsibilities.'

In another interview with the Daily Mail, Stacey explained that her own mother had spotted the symptoms of her depression and helped her through it, even encouraging her to take a break and go on holiday - and when she did, she returned to Zachary with a different outlook.

'When I saw him after that week away I felt overwhelmed with love,' she concluded.

'He looked at me and smiled. It melted my heart. I imagine it's what mothers usually feel when their baby is first handed to them. I just had it a few months late.'