A mum who is covered in thousands of tumours has spoken out about the abuse she receives from strangers in the street.

Ashley Jernigan has a rare genetic disorder which sees the lumps appear all over her face and body and says people often stare of avoid her.

The 35-year-old mum of four was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis when she hit puberty and has developed thousands of tumours on every part of her body since.

Ashley from Montgomery, Alabama, US, said: "With this condition, you can still live life like any other normal person. 

"It's just the bullying you have to deal with. It takes a strong person to overcome what people say. It's hard, it's really rough, and depressing.

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"When I go out, people stare and make rude gestures.

"They say 'look at her, where did she come from and what's wrong with her'.

"I don't want to date because of the stares. A man wouldn't accept me.

"It would take a strong man to appreciate me for who I am and look past my condition."

Ashley, whose mum, Lisa, died of the condition aged just 25, was advised by doctors not to have children as it would make the condition worse.

But she went on ignore this advice and have four children, Darnell, 15, Devon, 14, Keonna, eight, and Kaiden, five – but said with every pregnancy the condition did worsen.

Ashley wants to spread the word that the condition isn't contagious, but said some of the lumps on her body leave her in too much pain to wear shoes.

Although there is a chance her children could also have or develop the genetic illness, she doesn't want to have them tested.

She added: "Kids are more curious and understanding, they think it's chickenpox or ant bites but I just say I was born like this.

"I don't know how far back in my family it goes but my grandmother was covered in them, from head to toe.

"Darnell has it, but my others aren't showing signs yet.

"I can get them tested but I don't want to know. I'll be pretty upset if I find out they have it."

Ashley has rejected surgery to remove the tumours as there's a chance this could make them come back even bigger.

She said: "They can turn into cancer so I have to keep an eye on them.

"I worry about the future but I try not to think about it because it's depressing."

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