WHEN twin boys Marley and Reuben Lomas were born three months prematurely both tipped the scales at less than a bag of sugar. Doctors rated their chances of survival at barely 50/50 and mum Kerry feared desperately she would lose them.

Now, after an agonising year in which the brothers clung to life as they spent three months in hospital and underwent operations, the two tiny battlers hit their first birthday on Friday.

Mum Kerry will be joined by the twin's dad Ged Housley, family and friends to celebrate the big day. The 32-year-old, of Acorn Street, Newton-le-Willows, said: "I gave birth to them after only 24 weeks and with them being born so early, I really didn't know if they'd pull through.

"The staff at the special care baby unit at Arrowe Park Hospital were wonderful, I lived there until they were seven weeks old.

"They were there for 10 weeks and then went to Warrington Hospital before finally being allowed to come home on November 20... the day I should have given birth."

At birth, Reuben weighed only 1lb 10 oz, two ounces lighter than his brother. With the twins being kept alive on life-support machines at a special care bay unit, it was nearly two months before Kerry could hold Rueben in her arms and 24 days until she could cradle Marley.

The twins still have to be given oxygen seven hours a day at home, but mum reckons they are both now fighting fit.

She said: "Both boys are now big and strong and have shown they've got so much courage. We're looking forward to the party."