The conjoined twins born to a Shropshire teenager are doing well in hospital and are not believed to share any vital organs, a close friend of their parents said today.

See also: County mum has Siamese twins

Eighteen-year-old Laura Williams, of Harlescott, Shrewsbury, gave birth to baby girls, Faith and Hope, at London’s University College Hospital yesterday.

The family remain in hospital today as the twins gather strength before they are separated.

Emily Brown, also 18 and from Shrewsbury, who was a witness at the wedding of Laura and her husband Aled, said she spoke to the couple on the phone yesterday.

She said: “The babies are both okay. They are not sharing anything vital as far as we know. The next 24 hours are going to be critical.”

Miss Brown, who has known Laura for eight years and went to school with her at the Wakeman School in Shrewsbury, said the consultant was due to see the twins again today.

“It is to see if they can separate them in the next couple of days but we have just got to wait and see what happens,” she said. “It is quite sad. Laura is really tired so she is just going to rest for a while. She is tired and sore.

“Aled is being strong for everyone. All her family is down there and they are just leaning on each other for support at the moment.”

It is thought the twins could be moved to Great Ormond Street Hospital, Europe’s centre of excellence for such cases. Nobody from University Hospital was able to comment today.

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