DOUBLE TAKE AS BOY FINDS TWIN IN SHOP
THEY look like they could be twins – but only one is the real thing! The likeness between a schoolboy and a high street store’s mannequin was so striking that his family says even the real boy was briefly fooled.
And when young Austin A’hern put on identical clothes, the resemblance was uncanny.
The five-year-old from Ystradgynlais in the Swansea Valley paid his plastic doppelganger a visit at Marks & Spencer’s Swansea city centre store this week, after a relative had spotted the resemblance.
And mum Louise revealed when she had first shown her son a photograph of the clothing model, even he briefly mistook the image for himself.
“My niece had been shopping when she spotted the mannequin and thought it was crazy how much it looked like Austin,” Louise said.
“It was almost as if it had been modelled on him.
“She sent a photo on the family group and everyone was amazed at how similar they looked, even his two sisters.
“It was the same nose, the way he stands, and obviously the hair.
“When I first showed Austin he wasn’t concentrating and even he thought it was a photo of himself for a moment!”
After contacting the store, the family were invited down for Austin to pose next to his double.
“When we arrived at the store, even the staff were amazed,” said Louise.
“They were brilliant with us, allowing him to change into the same clothes as the mannequin was wearing.
“The only problem was Austin wanted to smile when we got him to pose but we wanted him to look the same as the mannequin.
“Austin’s dad is one of a pair of identical twins, and when I was pregnant we wondered if we might have the same.
“So when we visited Austin said he finally had his own twin now – he even asked if he could take it home.
“M&S were very good – they really looked after us and we’re grateful for everything they did”.
A spokesman for Marks & Spencer added: “We were only too delighted to help and agree there is an incredible likeness.”