STUDENTS on some courses at Otley College might learn about fertilisers – but those studying design may have found a secret unknown to their agricultural colleagues.

STUDENTS on some courses at Otley College might learn about fertilisers - but those studying design may have found a secret unknown to their agricultural colleagues.

It's not a secret chemical formula - or a strange pagan rite - but a chair which seems to have done the trick for three students.

They've all shared the chair at different times during their interior design course - and now they're all expecting babies later in the year.

Spookily course tutor Sam Simpson also discovered she was expecting twins.

Expectant mother Moira Lacey, said: "It was at the beginning of the year that I came in and told the class I was pregnant.

"Shortly afterwards one of the other students came in and announced she was pregnant too and then another one did. It was the icing on the cake to discover the course tutor was expecting twins.

"We all laughed that it must have been an extra fertile chair that we had all sat on during class but the men in the class were not too happy with that thought."

The students all started the interior design course last September and by August 2004 they will all be second-time mums.

Charlie Spinner, 35, who lives in Mickfield, near Debenham, and June Collen, 37, of Lowestoft, are both due in 2 weeks.

Mrs Lacey, 32, of Fountain Road, Rendlesham, added: "It won't be the end of my career as I want to take the advance course. I know the other girls want to take it too so I am sure we will all keep in touch when this course finishes in June.

"It would be rather nice to keep in contact after it being such a coincidence that we all fell pregnant at the same time."

Otley College spokesman John Nice said, "We are delighted that one of our most popular courses has inspired our students to achieve successes both inside and outside of the classroom.

"We look forward to welcoming the new arrivals later in the year."