DESPITE finding it difficult at first, 17-year-old Kayleigh Buckley was looking forward to life as a mum after her "fighter" daughter had finally been allowed home following a six- month battle. RUTH MANSFIELD reports.

A TEENAGE mum Kayleigh was finally starting to enjoy her new responsibilities on the night she brought her young daughter home from hospital.

After falling pregnant to a man 10 years her senior and giving birth to twins, one of whom was stillborn, Kayleigh had found it difficult to adapt to her new role at first.

But as she held her daughter in her arms and took her home, family and friends described the happiness Kayleigh was showing.

A family tribute issued at the time of her death read: "Kayleigh was a lovely girl and although she found it difficult becoming a mum at first, when she eventually held Kimberley her eyes lit up like a lamp. She was so happy when her baby came home so she could become a proper mum to Kimberley."

David Parker, the partner of Kayleigh's mum Kim, had also described in the trial how he had seen Kayleigh at home with baby Kimberley in her arms.

He said: "I asked her what does it feel like to be a mum now. She gave me the biggest smile ever."

The former Fairwater High student, who was described as immature for her age by a number of witnesses in court, had met Mills online when she was 15 years old.

A relationship developed, which was kept secret at first, but the court heard how the family found out and Kayleigh would then spend nearly all of her time with Mills, even playing truant from school and at one point running away from home.

Despite Kayleigh's mum Kim trying to stop the relationship, it continued.

Mr Parker said the relationship "should never have happened". He added: "I honestly don't know what he had over her."

Friend of the family, Louise Davey, described Kayleigh as "friendly and bubbly," but said with Mills, she had changed.

She said: "Kayleigh became more self-involved. It was just herself and Carl, no-one else." Speaking about Mills, friend of Kim Buckley, Ceri Harrison, said: "I think Kayleigh thought she loved him."

Kayleigh fell pregnant with twins and went into labour at 24 weeks and five days.

Baby Angel was stillborn but Kimberley battled for six months at the Royal Gwent Hospital's neonatal unit eventually being allowed home on September 17.

Neonatal nursery nurse Jane Powell described Kayleigh as two different people at the hospital. She said: "When she was with Carl, Carl was everything to her but when she wasn't she tried really hard with the baby, to look after her properly.

Speaking about Kimberley, she "Kayleigh sometimes bonded very well but at times,..she was young, she tried."

She added: "I felt that she was more like a 13 or 14-year-old. She had difficulties coming to terms with the baby"

But she said towards the end of Kimberley's stay in hospital, Kayleigh was bonding with her. She said. "She was looking forward to it."

A care package was put in place where Kim Buckley would be the lead carer of the baby with Kayleigh helping out. Neonatal liaison nurse Fran Harries said she thought Kayleigh was "terrified"

of the aspect of taking Kimberley home but was prepared to do it with the support of her mum and Mr Parker.

At the lime of Kayleigh's death. staff at her former school Fairwater High made tributes to Kayleigh who left the school In 2011.

Teacher Anna Alonzi, who was assistant head of Kayleigh's year said: "She was a pleasant, sociable and polite pupil. Kayleigh was popular with a small group of friends."

Counselling was provided at the school following Kayleigh's death.

At her funeral, Father Michael Phillips described ins described Kayleigh as a shy but loving girl who was overjoyed to become a mum herself.

Friend Terena Mellor, of Thornhill said: "Kim and Kayleigh were very close and this should have been a happy time for everyone in the family."