A North Yorkshire couple are said to be devastated after their hopes for a baby through a surrogate mother were dashed at the last minute.

A spokeswoman for COTS (Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy) said today that the arrangement between Denise Hughes and David Hodges, of Volta Street, Selby, and a 27-year-old woman from Kent had fallen through.

But she said they were still trying to negotiate with all parties in the hope of resurrecting the arrangement.

It is understood the couple, who have just moved into a two-bedroomed terraced house in Volta Street, had been planning carefully for the baby boy's arrival around St Valentine's Day, and had bought clothes, toys and even a cot.

But today they were said to be "shattered" by the news that the woman who was to carry their child had called off the deal - just two weeks before they were due to welcome the baby to their home.

The COTS spokeswoman said all the parties involved had left the surrogacy agency last September to "go it alone".

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