Gay Couple Open Surrogacy Centre

2 February 2011, 06:00 | Updated: 16 February 2011, 11:39

Britain's first gay surrogacy couple have opened their own centre in Essex to help people trying to have a baby.

The British Surrogacy Centre's the first of its kind in the UK and will operate from Chandlers Quay in Maldon.

Barrie and Tony Drewitt-Barlow made history when they went to the US and used donated eggs and a surrogate mum for their twins, Aspen and Saffron, back in 1999.

Since then they've had 7-year-old Orlando and one-year-old twins Jasper and Dallas.

In April 2010, changes to the law allowed for two men to be named as parents on a child's birth certificate for the first time in British history.

While surrogacy is legal here - no fees, other than expenses, are to be paid to the surrogate mother.

Barrie's told Heart: "We want to be promoting surrogacy in a positive way by making sure the correct procedures are put in place throughout the whole process."

The centre will give free advice on things like legal matters, how to find a surrogate and egg donors.

It's being funded through donations and advertising from doctor's surgeries and clinics.