Surrogate fights to stop twins sale

Helen Beasley made contact with the couple via the internet

The British woman asked to be a surrogate mother by Californian lawyers says she will sue to stop the prospective parents making money from the twins.

Charles Wheeler, 50, and Martha Berman, 47, of San Francisco, asked Helen Beasley, 26, to terminate her pregnancy after discovering she was carrying twins but she refused.

On Monday the couple said another set of would-be parents had been found for the twins.

But Ms Beasley, from Shrewsbury, claims they are demanding at least $65,000 (£45,500) to transfer their parental rights - she says this is immoral and disgusting.

We are hoping that the court takes away any rights that these parents may have and that Helen then has the opportunity to choose parents on her own

Helen Beasley's lawyer, Theresa Erickson

On Wednesday she will begin suing them for allegedly backing out of the $20,000 (£14,000) surrogacy deal.

Ms Beasley, who is living at a secret location in San Diego until she gives birth, will also ask the court to grant her parental rights.

Her lawyer, Theresa Erickson, told BBC News that the couple should be "held accountable to Helen for what they have done to her".

Ms Erickson added: "We are hoping that the court takes away any rights that these parents may have and that Helen then has the opportunity to choose parents on her own."

Ms Beasley told BBC Breakfast News: "The parents do not want them so they should not gain financially from them.

Contract battle: Helen Beasley, left, with her lawyer

"I do not think anyone should gain financially from having their babies adopted."

"When these babies go to parents it will be for free."

She said that "at the beginning, I knew who the parents were and that the babies were going to go to them and I was quite happy with that.

"But because of the way things have gone - money has been brought into it and it has all turned very ugly - I have grown attached to the babies and want to do the best I can for them."

Ms Beasley reaffirmed that "I still strongly believe in surrogacy.

"I still believe it is a beautiful thing.

"When it works out how it should, it achieves such a lot for everybody involved."

I have not received a penny from this couple

Helen Beasley

Ms Beasley, now about five and a half months pregnant, made contact with the US couple via the internet.

The Shropshire secretary was made pregnant in California using Mr Wheeler's sperm and eggs from a donor selected by the couple.

Ms Beasley, who already has a nine-year-old son, said she had agreed to abort additional foetuses if more than one egg was fertilised.

'Verbal agreement'

But she said a verbal agreement was made that such a decision had to be made before the 12th week of her pregnancy.

When the couple scheduled a hospital appointment for the abortion in her 13th week, she objected on health grounds.

She told BBC News: "Since I was 14 weeks pregnant they have stopped all contact.

"As a surrogate, I am supposed to get living expenses, lost wages, maternity clothes allowance - things like that.

"But I have not received a penny from this couple."