I waited 31 years to have my miracle twins.. at age 52

Decades of pain were all worthwhile for Sam & Ian

- LUCY LAING

It took Samantha Jones 31 years, £45,000, four miscarriages, eight rounds of IVF and a brush with death... but she finally gets to celebrate Mother's Day with the twin girls she had at the age of 52.

All good things come to those who wait, according to Sam and her husband Ian Jones, 55. They first dated for two years when they were 19 and 21 - before being reunited and falling in love all over again, 21 years later.

Sam says: "Age is just a number. I have occasionally been mistaken for the twins' grandma, but I proudly tell everyone that I'm their mum. And I will be enjoying a walk on the beach with my girls and my mum on Mother's Day."

In her job as a police officer with 10 years in the riot division, and Ian's as a firefighter, they are used to tackling difficult and dangerous situations.

But these were eclipsed by the challenges they overcame in their determination to become parents.

Cuddling 19-month-old Rubi-Mae and Summer, Sam, now 53, swears every moment has been worth it.

She adds: "They bring such a lot of fun and laughter into our house.

"We never gave up. I'm a very determined person in life - I tried 11 times to get into the mounted section of the police and finally made it."

Despite ending things with Ian on her 21st birthday and marrying then divorcing someone else, Sam says their hearts were forever entwined.

She recalls: "On my 21st birthday, I thought Ian was going to ask me to marry him. He pulled out a small jewellery box and I opened it, expecting to find a ring inside, but it was earrings.

"I thought I wasn't enough for him, so I walked away heartbroken without ever explaining why I broke things off."

More than two decades passed without contact. Then she received a message from Ian on Facebook.