IDENTICAL twins Hannah and Sarah Jackson shared a double dose of nerves as they took their driving tests on the same day - then a double celebration after they both passed.

The twin triumph was the latest in a string of strange coincidences as the 17-year-old sisters both scored 31 in their driving theory test, and both failed their first practical test.

Sarah, a catering student, took her test first, while Hannah waited anxiously at the Kendal test centre.

"When I passed, Hannah was really excited, and I had to try to calm her down before she took her test," Sarah told the Gazette.

"We know what each other is feeling, emotionally.

Hannah said she knew I was going to pass."

Just ten minutes later, beauty student Hannah set out with her L-plates for the final time, and Sarah experienced a mixture of excitement and nerves for her sister.

"I was more nervous than when I took my test!" said Sarah.

The girls, who live at Reagill, near Shap, shared a hug back at the test centre before celebrating their double achievement with friends.

Coincidentally, their driving test examiner was himself the father of twins.

Both Hannah and Sarah were taught to drive by instructor Marlene Sanderson, of Morland.

"She did get confused at first," said Sarah, who is distinguished by her longer hair.

"She would say, which one have I got this morning?"

The twins share a Volvo car, and will take turns driving to Kendal College, and to Kennedy's chocolate factory at Orton, where they work together part time.

The sisters also experienced several childhood coincidences.

"When we are ill, we are both sick at the same time," said Sarah.

"We both had chickenpox at the same time, and we both have fillings in the same teeth."