Twin girls whose lives were saved with minutes to spare have raised hundreds for the neonatal unit where they spent months fighting for survival.

Alice and Emily Hall were born by emergency caesarean at Wishaw General hospital, an hour after doctors discovered during a routine scan that they were suffering from twin-to-twin transfusion and six weeks before their due date.

The rare condition means the babies were sharing a placenta and blood supply and affects 15% of twins.

It means one twin gets too much blood while the other gets too little, which can put a strain on the heart, leading to heart failure, and can also affect each twin’s growth and chances of survival.

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Getting the babies out minutes later could have resulted in one or both babies not surviving.

Mum, Margaret, from Airdrie, said: “Margaret said: “Staff at Wishaw General Hospital spotted the condition during a routine scan and rushed me into theatre.

“They had to act quickly. Getting the babies out just minutes later could result in one of them not making it, any longer and there was a chance neither baby would survive.

“It was a very frightening time but the doctors and nurses were amazing and saved the girls’ lives.

“We feel so lucky that both of them survived and neither of them have any lasting health conditions.”

The twins spent several weeks in intensive care and a total of 31 days in the neonatal unit. In their first year, the girls faced frequent hospital appointments to check on their progress. Following numerous tests and scans, both girls were given the all-clear in 2014.

The little girls raised more than £650 for the neonatal unit after taking part in the 100m Toddler Dash and One Mile Race at this year’s Great Scottish Run.

Margaret said: “I am so proud of the three of them. They put all their energies into completing both races to say a big thank you to all the doctors and nurses at the neonatal unit.”

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Dr Duncan Boyd, consultant neonatologist who was part of the team who treated the girls, said: “It was wonderful to see Alice and Emily again and to know that they are thriving to such a degree that they completed a charity run on our behalf.

“On behalf of the neonatal unit, I would like to thank the girls, and their family, for their physical efforts and their generosity.”