Alan Masterton: "Not seeking to replace Nicole"

However, the couple were forced to seek help overseas and after treatment, in Italy, in July they only succeeded in creating a male embryo.

That embryo has been frozen and will be donated to an infertile couple.

Mrs Masterton told the Scottish Mail on Sunday she was "devastated" by the failure.

She said: "It was a chance that we had to take but one we cannot afford to try again.

"We were devastated after living in hope for three days that the fertilised embryo could have been a girl."

Her husband also spoke of their frustration that they could not undergo the treatment in the UK.

Mr Masterton said: "It is outrageous that, despite this treatment being available in Britain, we had to travel abroad.

'Heal our family'

"We could only do that once, yet for the same money we could have had three treatments here."

Mr Masterton also rejected criticism of their focus on having another girl.

He said: "We are against so-called designer children and we are not seeking to replicate Nicole.

"What we are seeking to do is heal our family and return the female element to it."

The couple had been trying for a daughter for 15 years before Nicole was born and Mrs Masterton was sterilised after the birth.