DOUBLE the fun but twice the tantrums, tears and traumas await every family expecting twins.

As more mothers delay starting a family until later in their lives there is an increasing chance of conceiving twins. IVF treatment is also becoming more common resulting in more multiple births.

How ever your perfect pair are conceived accompanying the joy is undoubtedly some apprehension.

Fifteen years ago Donna Harris. of Silsden discovered she was expecting twin girls, Kara and Kristina.

A lack of information, advice and just being unable to contact other mums in the same boat, led her to found Airedale Twins Club.

Today the group has a membership of 25 families, from across Craven and as far afield as Burley-in-Wharfedale, and is affiliated to the charity TAMBA, the Twins and Multiple Births Association.

A newsletter keeps families in touch and details numerous events run by the group as well as offering advice including names of outlets offering discounts to parents with twins.

The group offers ante-natal support, mums and toddler sessions, Christmas parties and trips.

Secretary Louise Jones already had a toddler, Freddy, now six, when she and her husband David, discovered they were having twin girls, Molly and Jessica, now aged three.

"I wanted to meet like-minded people because having twins is very different to just having one child," says Louise.

"People at Twins Club know exactly what you are going through, both the good and the bad. You have a common bond immediately.

"There are more multiple births around. IVF is a factor in the increasing numbers of twins as is people leaving pregnancies until later as an older mother is more likely to produce more than one egg - which is what happened to me! It was a total shock.

"If it's your first pregnancy people think it's great but you know how hard it will be if you already have a child!"

Twins pass through the female line but do not skip a generation, as many believe - but are totally random. However once a family has one set of twins they are five times more likely to have another set.

Antenatal secretary is Janet Underwood, is a radiographer at Airedale, so she is ideally placed to tell shocked parents who have just seen their scans, about the club.

Louise says: "Twins Club is there to offer reassurance and advice. I went when mine were eight weeks old. It was just nice to be able to talk to people in a similar situation. People were really welcoming. It's just nice to have someone take them off you and make you a cup of tea!

"It is hard work having twins but there are so many positives. Twins are generally better at sharing because they are so used to each other and they always have their sibling to play with."

For more information on Airedale Twins Club call Louise on 01535 663116 or visit the website www.tamba.org.uk