TWIN girls who weighed less than a bag of sugar when they were born at just 24 weeks, have celebrated their first birthday.

Lilly and Tilly McHugh-Mendak, who live in Wichelstowe with parents Amanda and Richard, had a Disney-themed soiree to mark their milestone birthday.

Complete with pink and turquoise decorations, matching doll cakes and disco family and friends gathered at the Moonrakers for a party fit for two princesses.

They have battled operations, the threat of losing their eyesight and multiple life-threatening infections since they arrived 14 weeks prematurely last year.

“I’m really looking forward to it and I’m so proud of them. "They’re such strong little fighters and considering they were given a 50 per cent chance of survival when they were born it’s incredible they’ve got to this birthday,” Amada said.

In January 2014, mother-of-six Amanda was shocked when she realised she was expecting two new additions to her family, 12 years after her last child.

“I’d always had a fascination with twins and always hoped that one day I would have them.

"When they told me I was in disbelief and delighted. I never thought I would have another baby so it was such an exciting time for us,” she said.

Amanda enjoyed a textbook pregnancy before a routine 16-week ultrasound flagged up life threatening disorder Twin-To-Twin transfusion syndrome The condition meant Tilly was receiving the majority of nutrients from the placenta causing sister Lilly to stop growing and go into the early stages of heart failure.

As a result they endured their first operation while still in the womb.

Amanda said:“Lilly’s heart was inflated to twice its normal size so I had to undergo laser therapy at Kings College Hospital.

"The worst bit was waiting half an hour after the surgery to see if they’d survived it. When I saw their hearts were still beating I was overcome.”

But a month later Amanda’s waters broke at 24 weeks, and the decision was made to perform an emergency caesarean.

“They called a priest and told me to prepare for the worst. I was in so much pain,” she said.

“When they did the caesarean they realised I had a massive blood clot and if they’d left it 20 more minutes it would have killed all three of us."

"I saw the girls briefly before they were whisked away and I didn’t see them for a couple of days after that. They were so tiny.”

The 700g twins, who were the same size as an iPhone 5C, remained in intensive care for more than four months with every day bringing a new struggle including chest infections and laser surgery to save their eyesight.

Amanda said: “There were blips. One day we were told they had to shock Tilly because she stopped breathing in the night.

“They got chest infection after chest infection. Through it all, the coughing and the breathing problems they kept smiling.”

The babies then faced losing their eyesight at four months old and had to undergo further before they were finally allowed home to join their four siblings.

“I am a strong person and I just knew they were going to get through this," said Amanda.

It was both scary and exciting to have them home with us,” she added.

“Tilly is a TV addict, she loves anything with noises and she’s got a lovely personality. Lilly is a lot more chilled out and relaxed. We can’t imagine life without them.”