IDENTICAL twins - with identical tastes! For when Claire and Julia Kimch (21), of Ringley Road, Whitefield, each decided to buy a new car, they chose the same model.

And in another coincidence, both are about to start new jobs...as primary school teachers.

The girls, who are ex-pupils of Philips High School, went away to separate universities to get their degrees.

Julia, pictured left with twin sister Claire, went to Aberystwyth to study history of art and English whilst sister Claire went through clearing.

Claire said: "Clearing meant that I could get any university anywhere but I actually ended up at Lampeter which was only 30 miles away from Julia." Claire studied archaeology and Classics for her degree.

"The strangest thing would happen when we were meeting each other. We would get dressed separately and then meet up and find that we've got exactly the same clothes on!

"There were loads of times when we'd always try to phone each other at exactly the same time too," said Claire.

After university, the sisters decided to move back home and do a teacher training course at Manchester University. The girls are best friends and have been doing everything together recently - they've even just had their hair cut at the same time.

And they got their new jobs within a week of one another. Claire will be starting work at Plymouth Grove in Manchester and Julia at St Philips Church of England. Both are primary school teachers.

Twins and primary school teachers run in the family. The girls' mum, Mrs Barbara Kimch, is also a twin. Both her and sister Mrs Joan Scott teach at primary schools and Barbara is head teacher. These twins both did art degrees at university.

Claire tells a tale which raises the hackles. She said: "My mum and her sister were asked very separately to draw a picture. They were living miles apart from each other and they both drew the same picture, at the same time."

Choosing the same car wasn't so much a coincidence as a reflection of the same taste for Claire and Julia.

But there was something extraordinary about their driving test.

Claire says: "I remember when it was our driving tests. Julia's was in the morning and I was at college. I was so nervous all morning, really anxious.

"Then it was as if everything was all right. I felt calm, everything was OK and I knew Julia had passed. After that lesson I ran out into the corridor and the first person I saw was Julia.

"That was strange because she wasn't even supposed to be there! I just looked at her and knew she had passed, I didn't have to ask her."

Claire and Julia tend to buy the same things, although they don't have to go shopping together to do so. "We want to be different but usually end up liking the same thing, we've bought the same thing from the shops although we've been shopping separately.

"There's been occasions when we've bought exactly the same skirt and trousers from Marks and Spencer, although we went shopping to separate stores. We did buy the cars together though. We both liked the Nissan Micra but we've chosen different colours although it's the same model."

And they can't wait to get out onto the roads this weekend! "We're so looking forward to having the cars !" said the twins smiling.

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