LIFE gets better each year for the Moss-Carbert quads.

The four Darlington youngsters - Hannah, Jonpaul, Simon and Adam - have celebrated their ninth birthdays and are all becoming stars in their own right.

Brave Hannah, who has cerebral palsy, won an Against All Odds award at the town's Vibe Awards this year, which rewards the achievement of courageous children.

She is also learning to swim without armbands, which her proud family say is a huge achievement.

Her brothers are also thriving. Adam is a talented keyboard player, Simon plays guitar, and Jonpaul is a keen dancer, who will perform tap and ballet routines in the town's forthcoming Christmas Born to Dance production.

As a birthday treat, the quads were also selected to be mascots at the recent Darlington Football Club match against Wycombe, which the Quakers drew 1-1.

Their mother, Theresa, who gave birth 13 weeks prematurely, and father, Paul, said they never forget how lucky they are.

The couple tried for a baby for 11 years and conceived after Mrs Moss-Carbert was given hormone treatment.

"It's been a really happy year for all of us, especially for Hannah," said Mrs Moss-Carbert. "She's come so far, and to see her in the pool swimming is something we never thought would happen.

"She's such a determined little thing, and when she went to collect her Vibe award, she had the choice of using the stairs or a lift to get on to the stage - she insisted she wanted to use the stairs.

"It was lovely for all of them being mascots at Darlington and (manager) David Hodgson in particular was great with them. To see Hannah running on with her little walker brought tears to mine and her dad's eyes."

The quads celebrated their birthday with a swimming party at Darlington's Dolphin Centre.