The Devon school with an amazing 15 sets of twins ... and a set of triplets

It would be fair to say that teachers at that teachers at a Devon college and primary school have seen more than their fair share of sibling rivalry.

With 15 sets of twins and even a set of triplets between them, teachers at Chulmleigh Community College and the nearby primary school certainly have their work cut out for them remembering who is who.

The sibling symmetry has been causing some confusion at the college, because five sets of twins are identical and there is even one set of triplets, while staff at the primary school have been left befuddled over four sets of twins.

The four sets of twins bring the total to 20 sets from just 750 pupils - more than double the national average at nearly six per cent.

Head teacher Michael Johnson said: "It's amazing that we have so many twins here and triplets are even rarer. I've never come across triplets at any of the previous five schools I've worked at.

"It's an astonishing figure that's for sure, I've no idea what if anything has caused it - a bit of a strange phenomenon really."

Tom and Oliver Bradley, 12 from Winkleigh, are identical twins in Year 8 at the college.

Tom said: "People are always getting us confused, teachers especially. We get on really well and very rarely squabble."

Oliver added: "Sometimes, if I haven't done my homework, Tom gets told off about it which is hilarious although I've done a couple of detentions for him, so we're pretty much even."

For identical twins Jennifer and Rachel Manning, 16, from Witheridge, their favourite subject is PE.

Jennifer said: "People who don't really know us tend to think we're the same person but we have different personalities.

"Rachel is known as a bit of a naughty girl whereas I'm just an angel." Rachel said: "We both play rugby for Cullompton under 18s and work well on the field together.

"We get on well at home but sometimes we can spend too much time together, just don't mention boys."

Music appears to be the only similarity for non-identical twins Freddie and Tom Sasse, 14 from Burrington.

Freddie said: "I play the drums and Tom plays bass guitar. We're in a band together and seem to have a good chemistry when playing together on stage.

"Aside from that, we don't look or sound the same or even like the same subjects."

It's a similar story for Year 7 triplets Charlotte, Alex and Georgia Jones, 12, of Eggesfprd.

Charlotte said: "We're not identical and we definitely wouldn't want to be either. Although we're all very active people, we each specialise in different sports."

Georgia said: "I'm more of a girly girl whereas Charlotte could be described as a bit of a tomboy.

"We're in different classes but we all share the same group of friends which is cool. We're very close and are always talking at the same time and thinking alike."

Charlotte added: "We always know what each other is going on about and even what we're thinking sometimes.

"No one ever guesses we're related unless we tell them - strange really."