Triplets set for Cambridge

Lil Helen and Kate: Competition drives them

Sisters Lil, Helen and Kate Armstrong have been celebrating becoming the first set of triplets to be offered places at Cambridge University.

The trio from Truro College in Cornwall have won conditional offers to read medicine, law and natural sciences.

All they need now is straight As at A level to secure their places.

The sisters, aged 18, say it was a coincidence they all applied to Cambridge.

Lil, who plans to read medicine at Selwyn College before becoming a doctor, said: "We were very nervous about just one or two of us receiving an offer but once we realised we all had a conditional place it was a very big shock as well as very exciting."

If we had to pay £3,000 fees for all three of them, it would crucify us Father Tim Armstrong

Helen Armstrong has a conditional place to read law at Corpus Christi college. She aims to become a solicitor or a barrister.

She said: "It's great to be offered a place, but we've still got to get the grades so we're just focusing on the exams coming up at the moment.

"Exam results in the summer will probably be even more nerve-wracking than the last few days."

Their sister Kate has a conditional place to read natural sciences at Trinity Hall college.

First triplets

A Cambridge University spokeswoman said: "As far as we are aware this is the first set of triplets that have been accepted. We wish them every success with their studies."

Father Tim, 45, a biomedical scientist at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, and his wife Susan, 45, a nursery assistant, already pay annual tuition fees for their 21-year-old son Tom to attend university in Bristol.

Mr Armstrong said: "If we had to pay £3,000 fees for all three of them, it would crucify us. We just couldn't do it.

"But I am not particularly worried about them getting into debt because if they do as well as they should, then they'll get tremendous results and then pay it off quickly."

He added: "I think it has been a great help that there are three of them because they work off each other and ask each other questions.

"There is an element of competition there as well. We never have to tell them to study."