I'm still lucky, says twins mother

The mother who has chosen to sacrifice one of her Siamese twins so that the other may live, today said she was "still one of the luckiest women alive".

Tina May, 23, who is six months pregnant, has been told that her daughters - already named Courtney and Natasha - are joined at the heart and liver and only one will survive the operation to separate them.

She had to make the agonising decision to let one die a month after the birth, which is due in April. However, she and fiance Dennis Smith, of St Albans, Herts, who already have a ninemonthold son, Damien, will "get through it as a family", she said.

She told the Sun newspaper: "Despite everything, I am one of the luckiest women alive. There are going to be horrendous times ahead but ... God willing, we will also be blessed with a lovely little daughter."

She said she and Mr Smith, who met while both were in "loveless" marriages, plan to wed this summer.