AS age crept on so did the weight and ailments suffered by the Pilkington twins.

With their 70th birthdays approaching, identical duo Doreen Heaton and Kathleen Brown decided to slim to ease the pressure on arthritic joints.

They followed in the footsteps of Doreen's slimming success granddaughter, 23-years-old Anne-Marie, and signed up with Weight Watchers at Leigh's United Reformed Church.

In February they differed by only two pounds when they stepped on the scales and after 17 weeks and on their big birthday on June 19 had both shed 22lbs. But both have another couple of stones to go before reaching their 10st 7lb targets!

The twins who were born in Hope Carr Road, Leigh, and went to Bedford St Thomas's and Manchester Road Secondary schools have followed identical careers, working for over 40 years in the mills at Brooklands, Bedford and J and J Heyes.

They still shop and holiday together, often buy the same clothes and know what each other is thinking.

Widow Doreen, of Dakins Road, Leigh has a son and daughter, while Kathleen, in nearby Hurst Street, is married to Jack and is a mum of one.

Doreen said: "When Kathleen was pregnant I put weight on but it is amazing that we have always kept within a couple of pounds of each other.

"We decided to join Weight Watchers for our health's sake and after Anne-Marie lost six stones with them. We thoroughly enjoy it.

"We should have been going away for our birthdays but my daughter Tracy Martin is expecting twin girls so we had to celebrate at home."

Weight Watchers leader, Eileen Lewis, who runs the Thursday sessions, said: "They decided to join us for health reasons but also because they still want to take a pride in their appearances. They are lovely people."