I'm father of twins - at 71

A pensioner from the Black Country has become Britain's oldest father of twins - at the age of 71.

Richard Roden is the proud father of Ruby and Emily, his first children with 25-year-old wife Lisa.

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See also: Age no barrier to happiness for couple

Ex-welder Mr Roden is already a father of 10 from two previous marriages but is "over the moon" at becoming a father yet again - and is planning more.

"It's easier this time around as I've had plenty of practice with children," he said.

"We are going to try for a boy in two years. I've only got three lads, so I'd like another son.

"Being a dad at 71 is definitely more tiring than in my 20s, but they give me such a lot of pleasure."

He added: "I wouldn't swap them for anything - not even winning the lottery. They have made my life complete."

Mr Roden married Lisa a month ago - four years after their first meeting at a course at Brownhills Library and the couple, from Brownhills, had their two children without the help of any fertility treatment.

After a holiday in Weston-super-Mare in 2006 the couple started trying for a baby at the beginning of 2007.

They suffered the heartbreak of two miscarriages but in May last year, Lisa discovered she was pregnant again.

The twins were born in January this year at Walsall Manor Hospital, Emily weighing 5lb 5oz and Ruby 4lb 6oz and are nine months old today.

Lisa, who moved to Brownhills from Birmingham six years ago, said: "It was amazing when the twins were born, and Richard was a complete natural with them. He changed their nappies like an expert.

"Now the twins are nine months old and Richard is brilliant with them. I do worry about something happening to him and the twins being left without a dad.

"But he is fit and healthy for his age. He has his own vegetable plot and he's always plodding about in our garden."

Lisa said that when they were first together, people used to shout 'cradle snatcher' at Richard, but she added: "It used to upset me, but Richard said we shouldn't be ashamed of being together .

"My family told me that it wouldn't last, but four years later we are still together so we have proved them wrong

"We are just taking each day as it comes. The twins have really made our happiness complete and Richard seems 20 years younger now - they really have given him a new lease of life.

"People always stop Richard when he's out walking the twins in their buggy and say to him that he must be a real proud granddad.

"He always corrects them and says that he's their dad - but most people don't believe him."

By Ben Lammasnextpage