With seven pairs of identical little faces staring back at them, it's double maths, double history and double PE every day for teachers at one Sussex infant school.

Hangleton infants in Dale View, Hove, has been experiencing something of a twin explosion in the past few years.

First came Georgia and Jessica Law, aged six, and Ben and Ryan Geering, also aged six.

Then Joe and Sam Blackwell and Alex and Kieran Divall, all aged five, bundled along two-by-two.

This year numbers really swelled as Alex and Kirsty Brewster-Brown, Olivia and Simone Gallagher and Ellie and Megan Whiley, all aged four, trooped into the classrooms.

There is even an eighth set of twins trying to get into the school - but only one place available.

Headteacher Nichola Rennie said: "According to The Twins Club, this area is notorious for it but no one seems to know why.

"It could be the water or the lovely clean Downs air, who knows?

"But I don't know of any other school in the area that has so many sets of twins.

"It would be interesting to find out if there are any other schools out there in a similar position."

The school has 275 pupils and nine classes but not all the twins stay with their brothers or sisters and are taught in different classes.

Mrs Rennie, who has been teaching in Brighton and Hove for 25 years, said: "I mentioned it in a staff meeting and they couldn't believe it.

"Yes, you might be aware of the ones in your class but you might not be of the others.

"Some of the twins I have known since they were babies because they had older brothers or sisters who were taught here and some are new to us.

"Because we have three forms at entry level we give parents the choice.

"Some let the twins stay together but others use the opportunity to be separate.

"We're lucky we can accommodate both. To be a twin is something very special but we have to remember they are individuals as well."

Mrs Rennie said she knew the names of all the twins but even she found it difficult to tell them apart some of the time.

She said: "If you don't have contact with them all the time, it is harder.

"I sometimes find it easier when they are not together because it does get confusing.

"Their mums will also sometimes dress them in different things so one will wear a plain jumper while the other will wear one with the school logo.

"Their class teachers know them best but often you can see how very different their personalities are.

"Some are very lively and bubbly, while others are much quieter."