IT COULD be her last chance to conceive the child she's been longing for. Grandmother Priscilla Eatwell, now 57, and husband Don, 70, have jetted to Italy with their egg donor for the IVF treatment they have waited five years to begin.

If it is successful, the mum-of-three could have a baby before the end of the year, making her one of the oldest women in the country to give birth.

This is the second time Priscilla, who runs a care home in Bournemouth, and her egg donor, Cherie Watts, 27, have made the trip to Rome for treatment at the hands of one of Italy's most controversial fertility medics, Dr Severino Antinori.

In February 2004, IVF preparations were under way but were not successful and the treatment did not go ahead.

Now Priscilla has another chance to fulfil her dream for a fourth child.

A spokesman for the family, who left for Italy without giving interviews, said: "This is the second time they are attempting IVF and of course they hope it will be successful."

Previously Priscilla, formerly of Boscombe, but now living in Botley in Hampshire, told the Echo: "Obviously, my time is running out."

The Eatwells' story grabbed headlines across the country in August 2003 when Priscilla took out an advert in the Daily Echo, appealing for an egg donor.

Scores of women, including Bournemouth mum Sharon Cave, came forward with offers, as we revealed her battle against time to conceive a fourth baby.

Priscilla, who has two grown-up children from a previous marriage and a two-year-old grandson, Jacob, was irreversibly sterilised when she was 24.

She and second husband Don had a daughter, Sophie, now 15, born using Priscilla's eggs with IVF treatment.

But the active grandmother has dreamed of having another child ever since her son died of drug misuse when he was just 16.

She started her search for an IVF clinic five years ago, but two UK centres turned her down because she was too old - and Priscilla was forced overseas where laws are more relaxed.

IVF explained

The donor must take a month's worth of fertility drugs to produce enough eggs to make the attempt worthwhile, increasing the chances of pregnancy.

The eggs are retrieved, or "harvested", during a laparoscopy operation.

Sperm from the father will be carefully injected into the eggs to fertilise them.

One to two days' wait follows to check whether the eggs have been fertilised and will become embryos.

The recipient woman is given fertility drugs to prepare her womb for pregnancy.

Healthy embryos will be transferred to the recipient and a normal pregnancy follows.

First published: February 8