Mother's fury at dead daughter's fiance's plan to have baby with his sister using frozen IVF embryos

When Kay Stanley died in a car crash in Australia, her fiance and family were united in grief.

But a year on, they are at war over alleged plans to create a baby from three embryos she had frozen after becoming pregnant with IVF treatment.

Her mother Gwen Bates is horrified at the idea of having a grandchild in such a way and believes her daughter would never have approved.

She claims Miss Stanley's fiance Brett Vogel has proposed that his sister would act as a surrogate mother for the embryos in an attempt to have a 'miracle' baby.

Her daughter, a former entertainer who had toured Australia with children's show The Tweenies, was ten weeks' pregnant when she died.

Her VW Beetle was hit by a passenger train at a level crossing near Melbourne and shunted more than 200 metres as she drove to her job as a pre-school teacher. Mrs Bates, a nurse from Rotherham, said: 'I was told by Brett's family not to be sad because a miracle was about to take place.

'They told me his sister Sally was going to have one or two of the embryos implanted so that Brett could have my girl's baby.

'This was devastating news and would have an enormous impact on my life. It is also something I believe Kay would be against.'

Mrs Bates has stayed in Australia fighting to bring her daughter's body home after, she said, Miss Stanley was buried there against her wishes.

However, Mr Vogel's family will have no contact with her, so she does not know if the bizarre baby plan has gone ahead.

'It was Sally's partner who told me that it had been discussed by the family,' added Mrs Bates. 'I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was a bombshell and I found it weird.

'Brett admitted there were three embryos still frozen from the IVF treatment Kay had been having.

'But when I tried to bring up the claims that his sister would act as a surrogate, he blanked me.

'Since the funeral Brett has been all over the world but has returned to Australia. I almost bumped into him in a cafe but he got up and walked straight out. He crossed the street when I saw him on another occasion.'

Kay Stanley died in an accident in Australia. Her mother is now fighting to bring her body back and prevent her fiance from using her frozen embryos

Mrs Bates has sought legal advice after receiving a letter from Mr Vogel's solicitors demanding she has no contact with him.

'I am trying to find out how I stand legally,' she said. 'I will take action if need be. I have a right to know.

'This will be my daughter's child and I will become a grandmother. All I have left are a few pieces of her jewellery and some candles.

'I want to bring my daughter home and have her buried in Rotherham and I will not leave without her. We come home together or we stay together here. I want to be with her.'

She is considering legal proceedings to gain ownership of her daughter's body to establish the status of the embryos.

An inquest has yet to be held. But it has been suggested Miss Stanley may not have seen the crossing warning lights because of bright sunshine.

Her mother said: 'They are using Kay as a scapegoat. They started to put the barriers up after her death but if they knew it was dangerous, something should have been done.

'The police asked if she was happy, suggesting that she may have done it deliberately. I told them she had just had IVF treatment and was about to get married. There was no one more careful than Kay.'

Mr Vogel, who was Miss Stanley's partner for four years, has declined to comment.

Honeymoon Packages

Grandad donates sperm for 'grandchild'

A 72-year-old British man is to donate his sperm to his daughter-in-law, allowing her to become a mother and produce a "grandchild", fertility authorities said.

The unnamed man is donating his sperm because his son and daughter-in-law's attempts at IVF treatment failed due to the poor quality of the husband's sperm, according to London's Evening Standard newspaper.

"It's not uncommon for someone in the family to donate, although normally the age limit for sperm donors is 45," said a spokesperson for Britain's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, which has advised the clinic overseeing the 72-year-old's donation.

"What's uncommon in this case is the donor's age."

The donated sperm is being handled by the London Women's Clinic, where the couple are having treatment.

Dr Peter Bowen-Simkins, a director of the clinic, told the Evening Standard the couple and the grandparents-to-be had undergone counselling to prepare them for the arrival of a child produced in such an unusual way.

"I've certainly never come across a case like this before," Bowen-Simkins told the paper.

"In this case, keeping the genetic identity of the child similar to their own was a huge factor. The husband does not have a brother which is why he chose his own father to assist."

Experts said they had no ethical problems with the man donating his sperm, but did have medical concerns about the health of the child.

"What worries me are the genetic risks to the child because of the quality of the donor's sperm, given his age," said Dr Alan Pacey, a senior lecturer in andrology (male fertility) at Sheffield University.

Pacey said the man's age could reduce the chances of the donation working, increase the chances of the woman having a miscarriage and also increase the likelihood that the child produced inherits a genetic condition, such as autism, Down's Syndrome or dwarfism.