PROUD parents Nick and Amanda Bond celebrated the precious gift of life on Wednesday (December 3) when they marked the first birthday of the children they thought they would never have.

It really was a case of third time lucky for Amanda who conceived on her final course of IVF treatment to give birth to twins Amber and Chloe, after ten years of trying for a child.

Under NHS guidelines, couples are allowed three free IVF treatments before they have to go private.

Amanda (33) who lives in Neston Road, Walshaw, said: "I would not have been able to afford the treatment privately. The first two attempts had failed and the third attempt was my last chanceto try for a baby.

The couple married in 1992 when Amanda was 22. After two years of trying for a babythe couple were told Amanda would be unable to conceive without IVF.

"I then had to go on a three year waiting list, until we could start the treatment. I had my first course of treatment in August 2001 and my second course in December 2001. It was after the second failed to take that I started feeling down and thought I would never have a child and almost wanted to give in.

"The treatment was difficult on both of us, and our lives really were on hold. It was a case of wait and see, and I could not have done without the support of my family and friends. They were so brilliant."

Following the final course of treatment in March last year at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester, Amanda told how she and Nick (35) were taken into a side room.

"I really thought the nurses were going to tell me the treatment had failed again. But instead I was told I was going to have twins. Nick had tears in his eyes and I felt every emotion you could think of."

On Wednesday, the couple held a party at Wacky Warehouse in Radcliffe.

"I was quite emotional on their birthday. Everything we have been through over the past years has been worth it now we have these wonderful twins."