Miracle twins who were born at 24 weeks and survived celebrated their first birthday with friends and family on Wednesday.

It was a sight their parents Lisa and Paul Swindell thought they’d never see.

Mikey and Gracie caused a media sensation at the end of last year when they finally returned home to Croft Close, Lordswood, after spending five months fighting for survival at the Oliver Fisher special care baby unit at Medway Maritime Hospital.

Lisa was just 24 weeks into her IVF pregnancy when she gave birth to the twins who weighed just 1lb 1oz each and were 8in long. They were purple, floppy and not breathing, and a medical team spent 45 minutes resuscitating them.

Their survival re-ignited the debate on the 24-week abortion.

Paul said: “Mikey and Gracie are proof though that the limit to abort a baby should be reduced.

“We never thought we would get to their first birthday so it’s brilliant. We call them our little miracles.”