BUSY mum Debbie Sawyer is full of apprehension once again as her triplets start secondary school.

The Gazette has followed the trials and tribulations of Charlotte, Katherine and Eddy since they were born in 1997.

The 11-year-olds are now preparing for their secondary education in September.

Mrs Sawyer, 46, of Sheldon Road, Chippenham, said: "The last time we did a piece for the paper was when the triplets were just starting Ivy Lane Primary School, which seems like a lifetime ago.

"The past six years have flown by and I cannot believe I am getting ready to wave them off to school again.

"We have had a very busy six years and the triplets have really developed into their own characters.

"We never really planned for triplets - we just wanted a fourth child, and that child turned out to be three instead of one.

"I think the triplets are really looking forward to secondary school, just not as much as the summer holiday stretched out before them."

Mrs Sawyer has three more children - Harriet, 13, Georgina, 15 and Martin, 16.

The triplets are not going to the same secondary school.

Charlotte and Katherine will go to Hardenhuish with Georgina and Harriet and Eddy will go to Sheldon with Martin.

Mrs Sawyer said: "This will be the first time in their lives that they will go their separate ways - but it has been totally their choice.

"I said they could have full control over which school they wanted to go to and this is what they have chosen.

"I think our family was the first to have six children at the same school at the same time when they were all at Ivy Lane.

"All of my children are so widely different and I think the fact that the triplets are not identical really helps."

Mrs Sawyer, who works as a carer at the Bluebell Lodge care home, and van driver husband Colin, 49, admit that their lives are far from peaceful but they say they would not want anything to change.

Mrs Sawyer said: "We are one big happy family and I think the fact that the children don't have to attend the same school and remain so close speaks volumes.

"I am proud of all my kids and they are a credit to me."