Identical twin girls are excited to be starting primary school but just wish they could wear their bright pink shoes.

Four-year-old Ruby and Jessica Ayres, who live with their mum Rebecca, dad Andrew and four-month-old sister Phoebe in Hayhouse Road, Earls Colne, have just joined Earls Colne Primary School.

They will be the only identical twins at the school.

Mrs Ayres said the twins had been looking forward to starting their new school and making new friends for days and had even worn their school uniforms in preparation.

The 26-year-old, who runs the before and after school club Olivers Lodge at the primary school in Park Lane, said: “They have been very excited as we have been counting down the days.

“They have been wearing their new school shoes in this week.

“We had a bit of a battle on our hands as they wanted to wear pink ones but we had to go with black ones.”

See this week's Halstead Gazette for the full story.