SCIENTISTS are appealing to the parents of newborn twins to help them beat the scourge of cot death.

The team who run the Durham University sleep-lab in Stockton need up to 100 sets of twins under four months old to help with their research into the causes of cot death.

While much is known about the sleeping behaviour of single babies there has been no scientific investigation into twins.

Babies who have a twin have a 49 per cent higher chance of cot death compared to single children. Despite a steep fall in cot deaths since the early 1990s the mysterious syndrome still kills eight UK babies every week - including a disproportionate number who are twins.

The study is backed by the UK's leading cot death charity, the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death.

Emma Kitching, project coordinator at the Stockton campus, said: "We have carried out three scientific trials involving the parents of single babies but this new trial, involving twins, will be unique."

The Twins and Multiple Birth Foundation (TAMBA) asked the FSID to try to commission research because of the lack of advice.

"The aim of the study is to learn more about how twin babies sleep best. The results will help midwives, doctors, health visitors and parents understand where and how twin babies sleep best and about infant sleep safety," she said.

Parents of newborn twins or who expect twins are being urged to get in touch with the scientific team.

For the first part of the trial parents will be asked to keep diaries detailing their twins sleeping habits for seven days in their first month and seven days in their third month. The information can be collected by telephone.

The second part involves loaning infra-red video equipment to families so they can film the twins at home for two nights.

Parents willing to take part in the third stage will be invited to spend two or three nights at the Stockton sleep-lab while scientists video the sleeping twins.

For more information ring Emma Kitching on (01642) 385884 or 335367.