"Hampshire's oldest twins" from West Wellow are set to celebrate their 95th birthday

Mary Brennan and Frank Moody, from West Wellow, who are thought to be "Hampshire's oldest twins" are going to be 95 on Sunday, December 15.

The pair were born in 1924 and have always lived in the West Wellow area.

However, they are not Britain's oldest twins with Irene Crump and Phyllis Jones, from Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire turning 102 last year.

Frank arrived first and tipped the scales at just two and half pounds.

Mary said: "My mother wasn't expecting twins, the doctor said 'there's another one coming' and she passed out."

She arrived a few moments later weighing a pound more than her older brother.

Frank took part in World War 2 and joined the Home Guard when he was just 17 years old.

Frank said: "It is unbelievable how many close calls you have, I once felt the warmth of the bullet near my ear but it didn't touch me."

He got called to fight in the Battle of Monte Cassino, in Italy.

When he came home from the war three and a half years later, Frank returned to his trade of butchery and worked at their family farm shop.

The twins' younger brother, Alan, ran the farm.

Frank spent 71 years working in the family business, finally hanging up his apron at 82.

He was called up during the war and fought with the Royal Artillery in Italy.

His former sergeant, Charlie White, has remained a friend and by coincidence he shares his birthday with the twins and will be celebrating his 100th on Sunday.

Mary started her career in admin and office work, before then helping out with the family business by delivering meat and learning butchery herself - a rare job for women in the 50s.

She said: "Once, a journalist came in and was surprised I was butcher.

"He said, can I take a photo, so I said no!"

Mary then returned to an office job and chance took her back to Melchet Court.

She became secretary to the headmaster for 12 years and then became matron, a role which she took on with no experience.

The head, Tom Brennan, by now widowed, then proposed to Mary and they married for 25 years, until his death in 2000.

The pair of twins will be celebrating their 95th birthday on Sunday, December 15 at The Mortimer Arms, Ower with 70 friends and family.