TWINS Liam and Rob Barton couldn't afford to be educated in the UK so they went for a transatlantic option.

Because the boys would be going to university at the same time their parents would have had to pay for £1,000 tuition fees twice, as well as all the other university costs, so the only way the pair could continue with their education was to apply for a scholarship to study in America.

And now Liam and Rob, 18, of Belgrave Road, Darwen, are celebrating after winning four year scholarships in Leisure Management at Troy State University, Alabama.

The course is worth a whopping £10,600 dollars each per year, which the lads would not have been able to afford if it wasn't for the scholarship.

Rob said: "I am really looking forward to the change, we will be able to make new friends and our prospects are fantastic too.

"American people are really friendly We went on a holiday to Los Angeles and the people there were great, they loved our accents and made a real fuss of us.

"When we have finished our course we are hoping to live in America, but we will have to see how our four years goes first."

The twins, students at St Mary's College, Blackburn, will be living in halls of residence at the university and won't have the worry of having to get their own money because the scholarship will provide them with all their living costs.

Liam said: "The sports facilities are much better in America than they are over here so we are really lucky.

"We are going to get the experience of living in a different country, while having all our living expenses paid.

"I think that we will be better people and better sportsmen with all the experience, it is just a one in a million opportunity."

Liam and Rob run for Blackburn Harriers and Liam recently ran in the Northern Men's league and beat the county record over 2,000 metres.