TWINS Ralph and Rudi Pearce are little miracles.

The cheeky boys, who love Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam, had to fight from their first breath.

They were born 12 weeks early, weighing one and a half and 2lbs respectively.

The pair were diagnosed with cerebral palsy when they were one and, although they are now three, they cannot walk or talk.

Their loving parents Laura Cooper and Bradley Pearce have now appealed for help to buy them special trikes, which cost more than £1,000 each.

Laura, 30, of Portsmouth Road, Clacton, said: “I had them 12 weeks early. The doctors were concerned one of the twins wasn’t growing, so I had an emergency Caesarean.

“They were born both weighing less than a bag of sugar.

“They were rushed to special baby care units at separate hospitals miles apart. It was traumatic.”

Rudi was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital and Ralph to Lewisham. It was ten weeks later before they were reunited at Colchester General Hospital.

Laura said: “They were my little miracles.

“It wasn’t until they were about a year old that cerebral palsy was mentioned.

“We were noticing they weren’t hitting their targets with sitting up and things.”

Ralph has been sized for a little walker while Rudi is waiting for a panda chair to help him sit up, and both are set to share a physiotherapy bed.

But not all equipment to help the boys is funded by the NHS.

Laura added: “It’s quite rare for twins to both have cerebral palsy and it’s been quite tough getting equipment “The trikes are to help them strengthen their muscles.”

To help pay for the equipment, Janine Logan, owner of Shhh Boutique, in Rosemary Road, Clacton, is raffling off two £50 store vouchers.

Laura added: “Janine has been lovely. And my sister works at the Robin Hood pub and they have put up a Christmas tree where people can put money in an envelope to donate.

“It’s heartwarming people want to help.

Raffle tickets cost £2 and are available from Shhh Boutique, in Rosemary Road, Clacton.