THEY credit simple living, hard work and good husbands for their long lives and are not the kind of women to make a fuss.

However, Evelyn Middleton and Edith Ritchie enjoyed the limelight yesterday after being officially named as the world's oldest living twins at the age of 102.

The sisters live together at a care home in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, in the heart of the area where their husbands once farmed and their large families were raised.

Despite their accolade being verified by Guinness World Records, the title did not overwhelm the pair.

Louise Fraser, who manages the Bonnyton House home where they live, said: "To them, it was just another day, and these days there is not much that takes them aback."

Ms Fraser described the twins as lovely ladies who still spend much of their time together.

"They sit beside each other for their meals and they are always asking after each other. If one is not there, the other will want to know where she is," she said.

Evelyn and Edith, whose maiden name is Rennie, were born on their father's farm at Pitgersie near Foveran, Aberdeenshire, in 1909, when Edward VII, son of Queen Victoria, was on the throne.

Since then, they have lived through the reign of four monarchs and two world wars.

As girls, they were always dressed in matching clothes, and left school at 13 before starting work on their father's land and eventually meeting their own Aberdeenshire farmers.

Edith met her husband, Nathaniel Ritchie, at a dance in Ellon and wed in 1929 before having four children, nine grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

Evelyn, who is known as Evie, married William Middleton and also had four children, with 12 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren to follow.

Their families joined together last November to celebrate the twins' birthday.

Among them was Evelyn's daughter Eveline Smith, who is 82 and counts herself lucky to still be able to see her mother.

Mrs Smith, of Cruden Bay, said: "She has been a good mother to all four of us and always very kind.

"They are very lucky they are both together and they have always been close, and remain close."

While they celebrated their world record birthday in November with a glass of champagne and slice of cake, the twins are more likely to be found enjoying a plate of stovies or mince and tatties with a cup of tea.

They pass the days with the odd game of bingo but also like to keep up with the news. Edith still has her newspaper delivered to the home every day and will read out the best stories to Evelyn.

Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief at Guinness World Records, said: "Edith and Evelyn are a remarkable pair – when they were born, the likes of Mark Twain and Florence Nightingale were still alive, and we had yet to conquer the South Pole.

"They're not just the oldest in the UK, they hold the world title.

"They've clearly benefited from good genes, and a solid life-long friendship that only twins can truly understand."

Welsh sisters Ena Pugh and Lily Millward briefly held the oldest twins title after turning 102 last month but their record was broken when Edith's son got in touch with Guinness.