NOT ONE, not two - but four extra-special birthdays were celebrated in Fishguard yesterday (Tuesday).

Brothers Iwan, Llyr, Iestyn and Owain celebrated their first birthday with their proud parents Barrie and Maria Nicholas.

The quads were born at Singleton Hospital on November 20th last year and then spent several weeks in the Special Care Baby Unit at Withybush Hospital, before going home.

Barrie, aged 32, is a self-employed carpenter and Maria, 30, owns beauty salons in Fishguard and Carmarthen, and is a former runner-up in the Welsh Woman of the Year competition.

They said the past year had been enjoyable, but also very difficult. Its very special, but its very demanding having four babies to look after, and hugely draining, said Maria.

At the beginning, it was amazing if we had two hours sleep a night. But after a few weeks, when we couldnt cope any more, family and friends got together and organised a rota.

For a while, two of them would stay overnight once a week - so at least we had one good nights sleep a week!

She said they would have found it almost impossible to cope had it not been for family, friends and other helpers.

Were both so grateful to everyone for their help. Our family and friends have done so much - and so have strangers!

The Special Care Baby Unit at Withybush Hospital has been absolutely fantastic, as have David Morrissey, and the social services.

She said people had helped in many ways - from giving time and support to giving the family toys, clothes, presents and money.

The quads are growing well, and developing into happy, contented boys, she said.

Theyre fantastic. They play with one another a lot and theyre used to being around a lot of people.

She said they were all still slightly different in size - as they were when they were born - and all had quite different characteristics. Iwan, the eldest, is very content and happy. Llyr likes to laugh a lot and hes always smiling.

Iestyn is very much like his father. Hes a real live wire, hes into everything.

Owain is the most demanding by far. Hes the cheekiest and the funniest, and hes very sharp. Hes probably the one most like me!

The boys celebrated their birthday with a small party with family and close friends. Maria made them a birthday cake in the shape of a train with four coaches - one for each of them and decorated with their names.

q On Sunday, the family spent the day with BBC Wales, which has filmed them for part two of a programme called Life Matters. It will be screened in April

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Pictured are (left to right): Front, Iestyn, Llyr and Owain. Back, Iwan.