By Filipa Gaspar

A couple said they were expecting twins have welcomed rare identical triplets for Christmas.

Hunter, Bodhi and Travis were due on Christmas Day but were born prematurely within minutes of each other.

The baby boys were delivered at 33 weeks at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust - giving their parents three early and special Christmas gifts.

Hunter and Travis both weighed four pounds and six ounces at birth, while little Bodhi weighed only four pounds and five ounces.

The babies were cared for at the RUH's Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care before returning home with parents Stacey and Grant Silk in time for Christmas.

When their parents Stacey and Grant attended the first scan, they were told they would be having twins.

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Stacey said: "It's magical. We're so lucky that they've all been born healthy and have made such good progress so quickly.

"It feels as though someone's been looking over us.

"Although the pregnancy was difficult at times, especially physically, I was very lucky not to have any of the medical complications that can come with triplets.

"We're just overjoyed, so happy!"

The couple added: "We were left a bit speechless when we were told it would be twins, but we came to terms with it quite quickly and let all our friends and family know.

"Grant joked at the time 'Imagine if there's another one!'.

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"Little did we know!"

It was at their next scan they found that it was going to be triplets.

"When we were told, we just looked at each other and burst into laughter. We couldn't believe it," said Stacey.

"When we got back to the car we just sat there in silence for a few minutes, trying to make sense of it all. It was quite overwhelming at the time.

"Grant had just bought a new car and said he was glad he'd chosen the nine-seater!"

Now back home in Oakhill, near Shepton Mallet, Somerset, Stacey said the couple were looking forward to a big family Christmas.

The couple - who also have a seven-year-old named Juke and a three-year-old named Blake - are looking forward to Christmas.

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A post shared by The Silk Triplets (@thesilktriplets)

They said: "We're taking it one day at a time and embracing the chaos - we're quite a chaotic family anyway, so it suits us!

"We can't wait for Christmas with all the boys. We've told all our family to make sure they all cook over the Christmas holidays and we'll spend the season visiting them all and eating all their food."

Stacey added that she couldn't speak highly enough of the care she had received at the RUH and on the neonatal care ward.

"We've been so well looked after," she said. "Everyone has been so supportive and helpful. I call the staff here our angels on Earth."

The triplets were born in November.

You can follow the triplets' progress on their own special Instagram account - @thesilktriplets