A grandmother and her grandson are expecting a child together after paying a surrogate £20,000 to carry the baby for the 72-year-old woman.

The woman, Pearl Carter, and her 26-year-old grandson, Phil Bailey, never knew each other after Carter was forced to give up her daughter when she was 18 because it was out of wedlock and her parents were strict Catholics.

After many years of searching, Bailey tracked down his grandmother after the death of his mother. The two said upon meeting they knew it was love at first sight.

"From the first moment that I saw him, I knew we would never have a grandmother-grandson relationship. For the first time in years I felt... alive," Carter said to New Idea Magazine after admitting their incestuous relationship was not anyone's business. "When he emailed me a photo, I thought what a handsome and sexy man he was before pinching myself - he was my grandson. I wrote back immediately and included my phone number."

Bailey said he always liked older woman and knew he found the one when he first saw his grandmother, "I wanted to kiss her there and then. My feelings were overwhelming," he said to the New Idea.

The two said they get made fun of in public for expressing their love. In spite of this, they are moving forward and having a child with an "open-minded" surrogate.

"Initially I was shocked," said Roxanne Campbell when she offered to be there donor, "But they're a brilliant pair and I saw how much they loved each other. I know the baby will be loved too."

"I am just so happy. I am finally going to be a mum and not forced to give up my child," Carter said, "Phil's going to be a great dad. I never in a million years thought at 72 I'd be 'pregnant' and in love with my grandson. I make no apologies and I believe God's given me a second chance."

The two currently live together as Bailey works as a carpenter. Carter is retired and used her retirement money to fund the pregnancy.