A Hitchin mum has designed a 'Love not Hate' bag that aims raise awareness of the different types of discrimination.

The tote bag is designed to highlight the severe effects discrimination has on a young person's life, while also tackling head on the subject of intolerance, hatred and prejudice in Hitchin.

The design on the natural cotton shoulder bag highlights 26 different themes that younger people can suffer discrimination for - from sexual orientation to body shape, to hair colour. The bag urges everyone to 'Love not Hate'.

Nikki Lennox, 51 from Hitchin, who designed the tote, said: "I have been hearing about friend's children who have been discriminated against or bullied in school, others who are being digitally abused, and even heard about others being attacked in the street.

"All of these acts can have really devastating and heartbreaking effects on their confidence and wellbeing.

"I know a tote isn't going to change the world and I'm not expecting miracles. I just want to raise awareness of the different types of discrimination, and give those who stand against it the chance to show their feelings publicly wherever they go.

"If it contributes to making one bully stop and think before they discriminate against a young person for their sexuality or their hair colour or their body shape then I will be happy."

The totes are on sale at at MollyCotton for £7.99 and available from the Molly Cotton marquee at Goatfest this Friday to Sunday.

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Molly Cotton Clothing is an e-commerce online shop created during lockdown which sells young fashionable clothes aimed at teenage girls and upwards only.

The creators of the website, Nikki Lennox and her 14 year old daughter Isabella Lennox-Moorby, created the online clothing shop as a joint project to keep them focussed and occupied during lockdown.

At the time, Nikki was furloughed one day a week from her role working at a national charity in London and Isabella was having school lessons remotely.[.L]