The Kilshaws agreed to the voluntary repossession of their home

The voluntary repossession followed a long drawn out and costly legal saga to keep babies Belinda and Kimberley, whom the Kilshaws bought in January for several thousands pounds via an internet adoption agency.

But in April this year, the High Court ruled that the twins must be returned to the United States where a court would settle their future.

Soon after the government announced plans to crack down on the internet adoption of children as part of the Adoption and Children Bill imposing stricter restrictions.

Mr Kilshaw - who plans to move with his wife and two young sons to a bungalow in nearby Chester - said he had gone passed the stage of being embarrassed about their situation.

I don't feel embarrassment because so much of our life is now public knowledge that you get passed the point of embarrassment

Alan Kilshaw

"If you had asked me how I would feel about losing my house before all this, I would have thought I would be embarrassed," he said.

"But I don't feel embarrassment because so much of our life is now public knowledge that you get passed the point of embarrassment.

"But I do feel annoyed because I thought I'm the type of person who is very responsible.

"I never expected to get in this position and it goes to show how people can get into this position through no fault of their own."

His wife said she was not bothered about leaving north Wales and was reported to have been more concerned about the effect on her animals.

The twins at the centre of the tug-over-war

The 48-year-old spoke of plans to spend several weeks in Holland but said she was not splitting-up with her husband.

Back in July, she said she had "had a gutful" of her home in Flintshire in north Wales and was intent on leaving Britain.

Meanwhile, Mr Kilshaw, 46, said he would remain in the UK and continue his work as a solicitor.

"I will be staying in Britain for the foreseeable future because I work here and I need to carry on working here," he said.