Judith Kilshaw with sons Rupert and James

But Mrs Kilshaw, 47, said something was missing from their life.

Despite having an 18-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, she longed for another girl to make her new family complete.

When she failed to conceive naturally, she and her husband, a 45-year-old solicitor, embarked on a course of IVF treatment. It was unsuccessful.

So, believing they would be too old to adopt successfully through official channels, the couple decided in February 1999 to advertise for an egg donor.

Judith Kilshaw on her wedding day

One woman came forward but for some reason - the exact circumstances are unclear - the arrangement quickly fell apart.

It was then the Kilshaws turned their attention to the internet.

Initially they had considered adopting in China, Romania or Thailand.

Within a few months they had found a suitable mother-to-be in America.

Their plans were again foiled when it turned out the woman was not in fact pregnant but suffering from an ovarian cyst.

Evil Ghosts

Undeterred, the Kilshaws persevered. A short time later, they were alerted to the twin girls they were to set their hearts on.

They have now employed a nanny to help them look after twin girls Kimberley and Belinda.

It has since emerged the Kilshaws have had other concerns since setting up home in Buckley.

About a year ago they apparently feared their idyllic rural home was inhabited by evil ghosts.

They called in a team of ghost-busters to dicuss the apparitions which included one seen by their son and dubbed "The Milky Man", and another who Mrs Kilshaw said was evil.