THEY were miracle babies from the start after their parents were told they may have to consider adopting children after difficulties conceiving.

But now the two little fighters, who spent three weeks on a special baby care unit at Warrington Hospital after they were born seven weeks early, are looking forward to celebrating their 18th birthdays.

Twins Francesca and Jessica Maio, of Bruche Drive in Padgate, were born weighing 3lb 9oz and 2lb 15oz respectively on December 16.

Their parents Marian and Tony spent much of the festive season that year sitting by their daughters' incubators as staff cared for the tiny pair and appeared in the Warrington Guardian the following year as the family looked forward to their first Christmas at home together.

Dad Tony added: "They were so small and vulnerable.

"We were so worried about them but as the amount of tubes and wires around them decreased we knew they must be getting stronger including Francesca who had underdeveloped lungs.

"I was scared of holding them at first or squeezing them too tight but the staff were fantastic.

"We were concerned they might be sickly afterwards but there's been no problems."

Jessica went on to be a talented gymnast competing for Warrington and Cheshire in competitions and is now training to be a hairdresser in Lymm while Francesca is currently doing her A-levels at Priestley College and hopes to study educational psychology at university.

The two former Cardinal Newman High pupils will be celebrating their birthday with a party at home with family but sadly one very important person will be missing.

The twins' mum Marian lost her battle with breast cancer five years ago after battling the condition for more than four years.

Husband Tony, 57, added: "She would have been very proud of them as they have never let us down.

"She never let her condition affect her and was always really strong and positive.

"She looked after us all until the end."