DOUBLE THE JOY

Identical twins, 83, still living parallel lives | Pair share their hols, clothes & love of jokes

A PAIR of identical twins have lived parallel lives for 83 years, sharing jobs, holidays, clothes and a love of playing pranks on friends.

Margaret and Maureen Beckwith were born five minutes apart on July 17, 1940 and have been inseparable since.

They went to the same school after failing the 11-plus exam and got jobs at a dress-making factory aged 15.

The pair regularly played pranks on their workmates by switching places at their machines to see if anyone noticed.

Over the years they have never lived more than a few minutes away from each other and share clothes, holidays and even street names.

Margaret, who is the eldest, lives on Queen Eleanor Road in Northampton while Maureen lives on the next street named Queen Eleanor Terrace.