A mum whose twin daughters died before they were born is set to take on a cycling challenge for charity next weekend.

Vanessa Williams, from Watford, will be raising money for the Tamba, Twins and Multiple Births Association charity to improve the lives of twins, triplets and their families.

She said: “Lexi and Ellie sadly didn't reach full term pregnancy and left us at just 20 weeks.

“This was due to a condition known as twin to twin transfusion syndrome.”

Twin to twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a rare condition that can occur when abnormal blood vessel connections form in the placenta shared between identical twins.

“It was a journey that at the time felt like an eternity, and life was a struggle for a while,” she added.

“After several years and numerous failed pregnancies we were truly blessed with the births of our beautiful baby boys, Max Frankie and Joshua James.

“The girls would have been seven now and I thought it was time to do something in their memory to try and raise some money to help other families going through this heart-breaking experience.”

Vanessa will embark on her expedition from London to Brighton on Sunday, September 17.

She has been training since April, completing 445 miles of cycling so far while picking up various skills on her way.

“After attempting to put air in my tyres for the first time and failing miserably with three broken valves, I can now change a tyre,” she exclaimed.