A woman who feared she might lose the twins she was carrying when she was found to have cervical cancer at 19 weeks has been nominated for an award.

Michelle Stepney, from Cheam, underwent chemotherapy while the babies were still in the womb and she and husband Scott wondered if the twins, or mum, would survive.

But the treatment was a success and Michelle gave birth to two healthy girls and she was given the all-clear from the deadly disease.

Doctors think her twins' kicking may have dislodged a tumour, which was discovered after she was taken to hospital with a suspected miscarriage.

Michelle has been nominated for a Woman of Courage Award by Cancer Research UK.

"It was devastating to find out I had cancer," Michelle said. "But I wasn't worried about me, all I cared about was my babies.

"It was very, very hard, but I made myself try to ignore the cancer and enjoy the pregnancy, because I knew it would be my last.

"Now, to hear you are free from cancer, well, you just feel wonderful, you can walk down the road and just take a breath of fresh air."

Michelle embarked on the chemotherapy after conferring with doctors at the Royal Marsden, and at 33 weeks she delivered two tiny babies by Caesarean.

They were healthy but born without hair because of the cancer treatment.

"My family were there for me throughout, and kept me so strong," she said.