THEY'RE three of a kind – and now these triplets have chalked up three decades each.The births of Maxine, Del and Scott Keeble hit the headlines back in 1972 when their mother, Norma, produced the tiny triplets.

THEY'RE three of a kind – and now these triplets have chalked up three decades each.

The births of Maxine, Del and Scott Keeble hit the headlines back in 1972 when their mother, Norma, produced the tiny triplets. It proved a triple celebration for the Suffolk family when the trio reached their 30th birthdays.

But the landmark did not require an emotional family reunion, as two of the siblings still live with their parents in Needham Market – and the other lives less than a mile away.

The close-knit triplets, of Chalkeith Road, have grown up together, sharing birthdays, toys and presents. The two sisters, Maxine and Del, share a passion for Ipswich Town FC and are season ticket holders at Portman Road – and are even both former players for the club's ladies XI.

But that's pretty much where the similarities stop – because each is very much their own person. Scott, who works as an account holder for a company in Essex, enjoys football, golf, cricket and the peace and quiet of fishing.

Maxine – the triplet who has left the family home – works in the post room at the PPG factory, which was formerly ICI Paints, in Stowmarket, and lives in a flat in Primrose Way in Needham Market. She loves horse riding and is also a spiritual healer who has regular customers.

The third of the trio, Del, also works part-time at the Stowmarket post room, and is currently taking a training course in sports massage. Both her and Maxine, the football fanatics, have now hung up their boots on their playing careers with Ipswich Town.

Their proud parents, Norma and Stan, both 66, have just the three children – but with them all coming at once they have always had their hands full.

"It was hard graft and when they were small, I really needed another pair of hands," said Mrs Keeble. "You get help if you have quads, but not for triplets."

The multiple birthdays have meant the family home scattered with three sets of presents as the triplets progressed through Bosmere Primary School, Needham Market Middle School and Stowmarket High School.

Now they've all grown up but still see plenty of each other – especially as only Maxine has flown the nest. They are all single at the moment and there's no immediate sign of additions to the Keeble clan.

"It's not often there is peace and quiet around here," said Del. "There's always something going on."