MIRACLES really do happen, believe proud Malvern parents who endured nearly a decade of agony when they could not conceive.

John and Kim McDonough desperately tried for a baby for nine years, including two unsuccessful and expensive IVF attempts, but are now celebrating the birth of their twins Olivia and Alice, who are two weeks old today.

"It was so upsetting when it didn't work," said John.

"It takes a lot of getting over, even when you've tried not to build your hopes up. You don't just cry for days, you cry for months. It affects the whole family, you don't realise how much it upsets your parents that they might not get grandchildren."

Kim agreed: "It was bad. The first time it doesn't work you still hold out hope. Then you think, is it ever going to work? But it did and we got two."

After two unsuccessful treatments, the couple only tried again because they learnt they could have one free trial on the NHS. They were not hopeful but felt they had nothing to lose.

Sadly, not long after the insemination, Kim's grandmother died, leaving the pair feeling negative, almost certain it would not work.

This sense was so strong that, the night before going to hospital to have a pregnancy test, Kim got a home pregnancy kit to prepare herself for the bad news she was expecting to hear next day.

"Kim came out of the bathroom crying," said John. "Then she said it was positive and we couldn't believe it."

Nine months later, non-identical twins Olivia and Alice arrived at a healthy 5.11lbs and 6.2lbs, shortly after 11am on Friday, July 21. When they were put down side by side in the hospital bed they held hands, delighting their parents, who are pleased to have twins so the girls are never alone.

"It's unbelievable," said John. "IVF changed my life. Now I don't care about anything else except my girls and wife."

The couple say they are so grateful for having the chance of a free IVF trial that they want other people to know the opportunity is out there.

"It's just amazing. I hope it works for other people," said John, who still cries whenever he thinks of babies, but now for very different reasons.

The couple said they cannot thank doctors at Malvern Community Hospital, The Priory Hospital, Birmingham, and midwives and nurses at Worcester Royal Infirmary enough.

All were wonderful from start to finish they said and they even want to thank Tony Blair for making it possible.

The couple were particularly keen to thank John Watts, based in the gynaceaology department at Worcester Royal Infirmary but also working at Malvern Community Hospital. They said he was a great support to them and actually made them aware the free trial was available.

Not all health authorities offer IVF sponsorship and, even where it is available, it is subject to guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). For advice about IVF visit your GP surgery.