A MUM is home in Macclesfield for Christmas with her bundles of joy after giving birth to "miracle" triplets born three minutes apart.

Cheryl Davies, 28, and her three babes got a clear bill of health from medics at the special care baby unit at Macclesfield Hospital where they spent the past two weeks.

Jamie and identical twins, Samuel and Bradley were born at St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, within three minutes of each other and spent the first days of life in intensive care before being transferred to Macclesfield.

The amazed mum who discovered she was carrying triplets when a routine scan revealed three beating hearts at 14 weeks said: "It was a shock at first, but it's a blessing, it's a miracle really. It's a life changing thing."

Cheryl, who lives with husband Neil on Jodrell Close, Macclesfield, already has a daughter, Georgia, five.

She said: "It could happen to anyone. Familywise, we don't have any history of this except that my husband's grandad is a twin."

A residential co-ordinator at Brookview Nursing home in neighbouring Alderley Edge, Cheryl is a former pupil of Wilmslow High School.

She said she enjoyed a healthy pregnancy and went into hospital at 34 weeks as advised by gynaecologists supervising multiple births.

The boys were delivered safe and sound within three minutes of each other.

Jamie Adrian arrived first, weighing in at 4lbs 13oz, while twins Samuel Jack, 4lbs 3oz, and Bradley Neil, 3lbs 12oz, soon followed.

Proud dad, Neil, a landscape gardener with Peter Ashley at Styal, said; "It's amazing.

"We just wanted a brother or sister for Georgia. It's a big shock to have three but it all went smoothly. Cheryl was so brave."

He went on to give an emotional tribute to staff at Macclesfield's maternity unit which is under threat of closure if sweeping changes in health services are brought in.

"Staff at Macclesfield were amazing, " he said. "We cannot thank them enough they were wonderful and got the children into a routine for us.

"Georgina was born there and I was born there. Our family was able to visit because it is near home.

"It's just not right that they want to close it down. I can't praise them highly enough."