A TEENAGER who juggled A-levels with being a carer for her mother has collected more than 100 signatures in a petition which calls for further support for those in her situation.

Kirstie Pope, of Maple Way, Melbourn, studied French, German, Spanish and English at A-level at Hills Road Sixth Form, while caring for her mother for the past three years.

The 18-year-old set up the petition, to try and rectify the fact that there is no group for those of her age in the area.

Since telling her story to The Crow three weeks ago, Kirstie has seen a number of people keen to sign up to the cause.

She said: “The petition is going quite well. A lot of people have responded after seeing the article in the paper.

“I’ve got over 100 signatures from people I’ve contacted personally, and the online one seems to be going quite well and getting signatures too.

“People seem quite shocked that we don’t have a group here. There’s one in Cambridge, but it’s only for people under the age of 18.”

Kirstie is also in the process of setting up a meeting with health secretary Andrew Lansley.

She said: “I’ve spoken to Mr Lansley’s PA, and we’re going to set something up.

“We’ve not got a date yet because she is on holiday, but hopefully once she is back, we will.”

After failing to get the grades she needed for university, Kirstie is heading back to sixth-form this year.

She then hopes to get a university place next year, to study Education Studies and Spanish.

She added: “It’s difficult having to manage school work with home-life, and being able to revise properly.

“I’ll go back to sixth-form to redo my second year until June to retake my exams.

“I’ll have a look at other places, and see what grades they are after.”

To sign Kirstie’s petition log on to www.ipetitions.com/petition/ycihe/