It's a record - and it's almost official.

Braintree's twins and triplets explosion is about to shoot a nursery school into the record books.

Yesterday This Is Essex revealed Christchurch Nursery had five sets of twins - as well as a trio of triplets.

Today education chiefs confirmed it was almost certainly a record. And the pre-school could extend its record even further as there are two more sets of twins on the nursery's waiting list!

"I don't know whether they are identical too, but it's just amazing," said bemused teacher Julie Fenwick, who has the headache of trying to work out who's who in class.

She added: "It's going to be great fun."

Essex education authority spokesman Mike Barnett said it was impossible to be sure whether the bizarre boom in twins and triplets was a record because some schools had thousands of pupils.

But he continued: "I would be surprised if there is any school of any nature in the country which has such a high proportion of twins. We are certainly unaware of any in Essex."

Half of the Wednesday class at the London Road nursery is made up of twins and triplets.

Teachers are getting used to seeing double. Mr Barnett added: "I want to know what is in the water in Braintree."

The twin invasion has baffled staff at the London Road pre-school - and teacher Julie Fenwick admitted it could get very puzzling.

Speaking yesterday she said: "With three sets of identical twin boys and two sets of identical girls it can all get very confusing."

Little Shannon and Chanelle Beagrie cause staff most problems as they are almost impossible to tell apart.

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