IDENTICAL twins Katie and Sarah Lowes are celebrating after graduating with the same degree.

Onlookers thought they were seeing double when the sisters strolled up to collected their awards at Newcastle University's graduation ceremony.

They were even more amazed to find the 21-year-olds had graduated in the same subject, pharmacology, after three years of study.

Katie managed to go one better than sister Sarah, who came away with a 2:1, by earning a few more percentage marks to get herself a first-class degree.

But there is no bitterness between the sisters, and to prove it they are both heading back to Newcastle University after the summer break to study for their four-year-long PhDs, Kate in immunology and rheumatology and Sarah in dentistry. They eventually hope for careers in research, possibly in industry.

The twins of Honiton Court, Tudor Grange, Newcastle, who are former pupils of Ponteland High School, admitted that many lecturers could not tell them apart during their three-year course.

Katie said: "I think we caused some confusion, but having Sarah here was definitely a big help because two heads are better than one when it comes to course work. We worked together on almost everything.

"All through school we took the same GCSEs and the same A-levels and now we have the same degrees.

"I did manage to get a first, but Sarah was pleased for me and I would have been the same if she had got the first."

Sarah said: "University was brilliant. It's been the best three years of our lives."