26357-18An infertile mother from Purton says she is full of sympathy for Wiltshire woman Natallie Evans, who lost her appeal to save her frozen embryos.

Margaret Cremin, 47, gave birth to her IVF son, Mitchell, three-and-a-half years ago, after trying for a baby for seven years.

She said Natallie's case, which was yesterday dismissed by the Court of Appeal, has brought the difficult issue to the fore.

Margaret said: "I feel incredible sympathy for Natallie. I completely understand the need to have a baby even though our circumstances are very different.

"My only worry about this case would be for when the baby grew up knowing its father was so against it being born."

Natallie, from Trowbridge, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in October 2001.

She was offered a course of IVF treatment to preserve the only chance of having a natural child of her own before her ovaries were surgically removed.

She underwent IVF treatment with her then fianc Howard Johnston who provided sperm to fertilise her eggs.

Six embryos were created and placed in storage while Natallie recovered from her cancer treatment.

Following her successful treatment the couple separated but Natallie still wanted to use the embryos to have children. However, her former fianc withdrew his consent and insisted the embryos be destroyed.

Natallie had been challenging the law, which insists the embryos must be destroyed if either party withdraws their consent.

Margaret, of Down Farm, described the prospect of not having a child as "looking into an abyss".

She said: "With my premature menopause the only way I could have a child was with a donated egg and my husband Fred's sperm.

"But I just could not love Mitchell any more than I do.

"An egg donation could be an option but it is not guaranteed to work. We have tried again three times and they have all failed.

"We are now thinking about adoption."

Muiris Lyons, of Swindon's Withy King Solicitors, said: "Natallie is absolutely heartbroken. Her frozen embryos represent her last chance to have a child that is genetically hers so she is completely distraught at the outcome of her appeal.

"We now have 28 days to consider whether or not to appeal to the House of Lords."

Alex Emery