Confusion is set to rule the Cantle household from now on with the birth this week of a second set of identical twins.

Two-year-olds Lauren and Grace met their identical twin brothers Thomas Charles and James Philip for the first time at Watford General Hospital yesterday. The two boys were born early on Wednesday, six weeks early, to an overjoyed but emotional Alison.

Alison and her husband Peter, of Balmoral Road, Watford, have beaten all the odds to have two sets of identical twins.

Dr Banerjee, Watford General Hospital’s maternity unit registrar said it was a rare occurrence. There is one chance in 300 that a mother would give birth to a set of identical twins but the odds are considerably increased for two sets.

[From the Watford Observer of May 11, 1990]