A mum fighting to keep her twin boys in the same primary school class has welcomed the intervention of her MP.

Anna MacDonald, 36, of Black Notley, has lodged a complaint with the education minister about John Ray Infant School’s policy of splitting multiple birth children.

Her four year olds Bobby and Duncan were born prematurely at 33 weeks and have spent every day of their lives together since being in the incubator.

MP Priti Patel said: “Parental choice is very important in education and many people will sympathise with the situation that the MacDonald family are in.

"I have taken up their case and made representations on behalf of the parents to the school and to the Department for Education.”