Scottish Sisters Recognized as World's Oldest Living Twins

(NewsCore) - Two 102-year-old sisters in Scotland were officially recognized as the world's oldest living twins.

Great-great-grandmothers Edith Ritchie and Evelyn "Evie" Middleton were born in 1909, and both worked on country farms before raising their families in the northeastern town of Ellon.

The sisters, who are not identical, have always been close and now spend most of their time together in the same nursing home, the Scottish Daily Record reported.

Ritchie said the key to their longevity was "simple living, hard work and a good husband."

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

Glenday added, "They're not just the oldest in the UK -- they hold the world title. They've clearly benefited from good genes and a solid lifelong friendship that only twins can truly understand."

The previous record was also held by two British women -- 102-year-old Welsh sisters Lily Millward and Ena Pugh.

Ritchie's son Nathaniel, 76, realized his mother and aunt were around 50 days older than the title-holders and contacted Guinness World Records to put the record straight.

Read more: Scottish Daily Record