Double degree success for twins

Sarah (left) and Claire plan to study for Phds at Manchester

Identical twins Sarah and Claire Mahoney are celebrating after gaining identical degrees - with just a 1% difference in their marks.

The 22-year-old Warrington sisters studied biochemistry for four years at the University of Manchester and graduated with first-class honours.

The pair also got the same A-level results - four As in the same subjects.

Their 10 GCSE grades were also almost identical. Claire managed an extra A, while Sarah received a B.

The women are planning to return to the university in October to study for identical Phds before beginning careers in research.

'Very close'

Sarah said: "Claire will be better at some areas of a subject while I'm better at others, but when the overall results come in we're always very close.

"For the degree, our final mark was based on our second-year exams, eight final-year exams, projects and a placement in industry."

The twins went on different work placements and did different things, but still ended up with the same mark.

Sarah added: "We're quite similar anyway. We like the same clothes.

"Personality-wise, well you'd have to ask someone else. They tend to say I'm a bit louder!"