by Mary Graham

Tiny premature twins who were placed in hospitals 50 miles apart are due to be reunited tomorrow.

Ruby and Krystal Collins were born at Maidstone Hospital on January 18, at just 26 weeks.

Both needed intensive neo-natal care, which is only available in specialist centres.

Doctors at Maidstone tried to get the tiny babies into a unit at Medway Maritime Hospital but it was full up.

The twins were transferred to St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey. They spent a week together before Krystal was deemed well enough to return to Pembury.

She then took a turn for the worse and because Chertsey was now full up, went to Brighton.

Earlier this month, Krystal then moved back to Pembury, but the stress of completing a 121-mile round trip from their home in Maidstone was taking its toll on the twins’ parents, Martin Collins and Stephanie Dawson, who were reliant on lifts as they have no car.

The couple also have a nine-month-old daugher, Kym and son, Mitchel, 10. Becuase they have to be in Maidstone to pick up Mitchel from school, they could not begin their 121-mile journey to see their twins until the evening rush hour.

But today, the couple have been told that Ruby is now well enough to transfer to Pembury.

Mr Collins said: "It is like a switch has been flicked and she has suddenly improved. Up until a week ago she was having to have blood transfusions and there were problems feeding, but now she is taking a full feed and there is a lot less equipment sticking out of her."

Ruby is expected to arrive at Pembury Hospital on Wednesday afternoon and be re-united with her sister, Krystal, who has been there for around two weeks.

Doctors at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey said it was always their intention to transfer Ruby once she was well enough to join her family in Kent, and they regretted the separation of the twins.

Mr Collins added that the family had been inundated with offers of help, since the Kent Messenger broke their story on Friday.

He added: "Since the story appeared we have been filmed for the TV and its like we are local celebrities and everywhere we go people have been asking how the twins are.

"Early on Friday morning, when the Kent Messenger story appeared, a neighbour knocked on our door and offered regular lifts to Pembury and also offered to run food and nappies down there for Krystal."