Some sisters are said to be joined at the hip, but Shirley and Sheila are connected by their knees.

Both were admitted to hospital for knee replacement operations, on their right knees, at the same time and are now recovering together in their neighbouring homes in Braintree.

Shirley Shreeve, 59, of Stephenson Road and Sheila Ambrose, 61, of Hillside Gardens, both suffer from arthritis and were admitted to different hospitals for the treatment earlier this month.

Mrs Shreeve said: "We have always been close, but this is a joke. We are both hobbling around on crutches together. Our husbands can't believe it and the neighbours think it is really funny.

"We getting better each day and we are aiming to be able to go to our caravans for the start of holiday season and a bit of a knees-up."

But the sisters still have some way to go before they can match the amazing coincidence of the Marriott family featured yesterday on This Is Essex. When mum Zabrina Marriott had son Jacob he became the sixth member of the family to be born on February 23!

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