FATHER Christmas thought he was seeing treble when three birthday girls paid him a visit.

The Smedley triplets - Shannon Marie, Nicole Louise and Laura Jane - were taken to meet Santa as a birthday treat.

It is now two years since the sisters arrived early in the world - two weeks before mum was due to give birth on Boxing Day.

Proud mum Amanda, of Norfolk Grove, Church, decided to introduce them to Santa at Accrington's Arndale Centre, where he is in temporary residence during the festive season.

But the meeting did not go totally to plan.

Amanda, 28, explained: "There were a few tears. It was the first time they have met Father Christmas and I think they were a bit scared. "I don't know whether Father Christmas had problems telling the difference. Shannon and Laura are identical, so some people do get confused."

The girls will be celebrating their birthday at home along with their elder brothers, Christopher, nine, and Daniel, eight, and sister Patricia, six.

Amanda added: "We have a birthday party planned and will be spending Christmas at home. I had to start saving for presents in June, but it is worth it.

The girls were born at Blackburn Royal Infirmary and had to spend time in the intensive care unit to build their strength up.

They are due to start at Thorneyholme Day Nursery, Accrington, next year.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.