THE York mum who gave birth to Britain's first IVF triplets has hit out at critics who say the process produces "designer babies".

Anne Ma'aye stunned the nation in January, 1984, when she produced a trio of 'test-tube' children.

She had tried vainly for 12 years to become pregnant and was thrilled when science helped her give birth to Nourah, Khaled and Chalil.

Today she stepped into the controversy surrounding the birth, this month, of Jamie Whitaker.

His parents, Jayson and Michelle, travelled to America for IVF treatment to try to ensure stem cells from his umbilical cord could help treat brother Charlie, who suffers from a life-threatening blood condition.

The couple travelled to the United States for the in vitro fertilisation treatment because the genetic selection of children is banned in the United Kingdom.

The procedure sparked criticism over whether the medical profession was "playing God". But Anne disagrees, arguing that science has given the family hope.

"Where is the harm in wanting to help your child?" Anne said. "And what is wrong with him (Jamie) being told that he helped his brother to overcome a difficult disease?

"Surely it will create a special bond between them. This is not a 'designer baby'. The couple did not go and say 'I want blue eyes and blond hair'.

"There is a treatment available that could change his (Charlie's) whole life. Science can help him."

Charlie suffers from a potentially fatal form of anaemia, which can only be cured by a transplant of stem cells from a sibling with a perfect tissue match.

Anne, 54, said she had travelled all over the world in her efforts to start a family and said that the IVF treatment was only successful on its third attempt.

She said she had heard the argument that science was "playing God" before. "No one could come up with an answer for me," she said.

"How can I say that science should not be used when it has helped me. Each case should be judged on its own merits. These parents are trying to do the best that they can for their child."

Updated: 08:47 Friday, June 27, 2003