A HIV-positive man has become the father to healthy twin daughters after paying £80,000 to a clinic in Cyprus for a surrogate birth.

Antonio Marsocci, 47, was so determined to have children that he defied doctors who warned him of the small risk that his offspring would be born with the disease.

The British businessman, who is gay and single, was repeatedly turned down before a clinic in Cyprus offered its services, claiming the risk of passing on his HIV was remote.

An egg was donated by a mother-of-one living in Eastern Europe which was then fertilised with Mr Marsocci's sperm and implanted into a surrogate from the Ukraine.

Identical twins Anna and Maria were born months later on December 28, and Mr Marcossi is now waiting for his daughters to be issued with British passports before returning to south-west London.

Antonio with Maria right and Anna left. Mr Marsocci had the girls via an egg donor

He said: 'I can't stop looking at them and cuddling them, they are so beautiful. When a blood test confirmed they were both free from HIV I broke down and wept.

'I knew the risk of me passing on the virus was tiny but there was always that little element of worry so I was overjoyed when the girls tested negative. I have been through so much disappointment in my life.

'So to finally be a dad feels like a miracle, just a dream come true.'

His journey to become a parent began at the end of 2017 when a long-term relationship broke down.

Anna left, Maria right, at four weeks. Antonio had skin to skin shortly after the birth

'I always longed to have children and I always believed I'd have a baby with a partner,' he said, adding: 'But I began to consider going it alone.'

Italian-born Mr Marsocci, looked into adoption and even travelled to the States in the hope of having a family.

'But the fact I was single, gay and HIV positive was always a barrier. While adoption agencies said I could adopt, priority would always be given to couples and single mums first - which meant I might wait for years and never get to the top of the list.

'Meanwhile IVF clinics in America said I would never find a surrogate to carry the babies of a man diagnosed with HIV.'

Antonio with newborn Maria and Anna. Fifteen 15 years ago he was diagnosed with HIV

Then in January 2018 a friend mentioned to him that a pioneering clinic in Cyprus might be able to help.

'When doctors there explained modern medicine meant a woman could safely carry my babies and they would be born healthy I was delighted.'

Within weeks of signing up to the clinic, an anonymous egg donor was found in Eastern Europe.

'We never met - all I know is she is blonde, blue-eyed and tall and a married mum of one,' he said.

After taking drugs to help her ovulate, five eggs were successfully fertilised and the resulting embryos frozen while a surrogate was found who would carry them.

Mr Marsocci said: 'Only one embryo was implanted into he surrogate to guard against twins. So I was amazed to be told she was pregnant and then that I was having twins! But it was meant to be and I was delighted.'

Within weeks of signing up to the clinic, an anonymous egg donor was found in Eastern Europe

In November Mr Marsocci was told the surrogate was being cared for in hospital and that his babies could be born any day

Over the next six months Mr Marsocci regularly flew to Cyprus to accompany the pregnant surrogate to ultrasound scans.

He admitted: 'Those scans were so emotional and I feel so grateful to both women. However the meetings with the surrogate were very clinical - mostly because she didn't speak any English so we couldn't converse at all.'

In November Mr Marsocci was told the surrogate was being cared for in hospital and that his babies could be born any day.

He said: 'In fact they arrived two weeks shy of their due date. I got a call on Christmas day to say it was likely to happen and the next day, a bundle of nerves, flew to Cyprus.'

Mr Marsocci regularly flew to Cyprus to accompany the pregnant surrogate to ultrasound scans

On December 28, Anna was born by c-section swiftly followed by Maria two minutes later with both weighing a healthy 5Ib 7oz.

He said: 'I said to the nurse, 'How will I tell them apart?' She laughed and said, 'don't worry we'll dress them in different clothes.'

Three days later Mr Marsocci left the hospital with his daughters.

The whole process has cost Mr Marsocci £80,000 of his savings. 'But my girls are worth every penny,' he said

Sadly his 80-year-old mother and brother, 49, have so far refused to speak with him.

'Friends and some family were very supportive and thrilled for me,' he said, 'but when I told my brother of my plans he didn't want me to go ahead and my parents were never able to accept I am gay.'

He added: 'Some might say I have denied my daughters a mum. But I believe having a loving parent is what really matters and I will be honest with my girls about how they were conceived as they grow up.'

'Most of my friends are women - a good woman friend came with me to Cyprus to help me care for the twins.'

'As a single working dad I will also have to have help - maybe a female nanny. '

'Also the girls each have a sister - they already sleep entwined together in the same cot. I think they will be close, even though they are developing quite distinct personalities. Anna is very smiley and always demanding cuddles whereas Maria smiles but is more independent and reserved.'

Both girls were the result of one egg donated by a mother-of-one living in Eastern Europe

He added: 'I am on tablets to keep my HIV under control. As long as I continue to take medication my life expectancy is normal.'

Meanhile, he didn't rule out having a son. 'I still have four frozen embryos left,' he said, 'a little boy would be a lovely balance to my family.'

The whole process has cost Mr Marsocci £80,000 of his savings. 'But my girls are worth every penny,' he said, 'I don't even mind when they cry. I'm just loving every minute of being a dad.'