TWINS Phoebe and Harriet Shaw were overjoyed when they scooped matching grades in identical subjects.

The Thomas Hardye School students were still celebrating today after gaining straight As in their A-levels.

They both achieved top marks for English literature, history, government and politics, general studies and an AS-level in critical studies.

"I am really happy and relieved. It is very satisfying to think that we couldn't have done much better," said Phoebe.

Harriet added: "I feel relieved and excited getting my results today and I'm now looking forward to moving on.

"It has been hard work but finally paid off in the end."

There was a champagne and cake celebration in the garden yesterday with parents Gayle and Lindsay, who live in Welland Court, Poundbury.

Next term the twins will be separated for the first time because Oxford University would only accept one of them, but there are no hard feelings.

Harriet will be studying modern history and politics at Wadham College, Oxford, while Phoebe studies history and politics at Sheffield University.

"We are kind of looking forward to it but we've never been apart for more than a couple of nights so it could be a bit of an ordeal at first," admitted Phoebe.

The sisters, who were born in Sheffield and lived in Norwich before moving to Dorset four years ago, hope to join debating societies and write for their student newspapers.

Harriet said: "We are both interested in journalism and law. Our courses are quite open-ended so we've got time to decide.

"It would be really nice if we did both end up in London or some city. If we have families we would want to be near each other so our children could be friends.

"We're not sure if we are but we have always thought of ourselves as identical.

"Although we're close, we are both very individual. Our parents encouraged to dress differently and to have our own opinions."

The twins were in the same class for every subject except for English literature and they studied at home together in the evenings, but there was no special telepathic communication to help them in exams.

Phoebe said: "Some of our friends said it was really difficult going home and trying to motivate themselves so in some ways we were lucky.

"Harriet is the organised one and I am the motivating one. If one of us is having a bad day the other can pull her up."

While Harriet created the revision planners, Phoebe concentrated on getting them both through that day's work.

"I'm on the calmer side and Phoebe tends to get more passionate about things," said Harriet. "We balance each other out."