DELIGHTED Bolton parents Janice and Christopher Thomas are celebrating the birth of their "miracle" baby son.

Nicholas James Thomas was born yesterday and is the biological twin of his two-year-old sister Victoria.

As revealed exclusively in Saturday's BEN, he developed from an embryo frozen when Janice's first IVF treatment was carried out and Victoria was conceived.

The frozen embryo was then implanted last October at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester, making Nicholas and Victoria twins - but born two years apart.

Nicholas was born by Caesarean section yesterday at the Princess Anne Maternity Unit in Bolton.

He weighed in at 7lb 6oz. Christopher, 36, said: "I was thrilled to bits to have a little lad. I always wanted a boy and now we have the perfect family."

He said the birth was very emotional for both himself and his 35-year-old wife, of Braddyll Road, Over Hulton. The couple had endured years of fertility treatment before Victoria was born.

They chose the name Nicholas for their son after the patron saint of children.

Christopher said Victoria and Nicholas did look alike. He said: "It is a real miracle, absolutely marvellous."

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