Identical twin sisters who have partied with The Rolling Stones and starred on The X Factor are still performing – at almost 80 years of age!

Patricia Bailey and Margaret Jones, of Willesborough, Ashford, first started performing aged four and are still going strong 75 years later as the ‘Great Grannies Rock’ duo.

They were formerly known as ‘The Taylor Twins’ and achieved fame in the 1960s when they joined one of the first all-female bands ‘Vicki and her Ladybirds’.

While others their age have long retired, the pair say they don’t plan on giving up any time soon.

Patricia, 79, said: “People look at us and think we’re too old and that we should be indoors knitting but they soon change their mind after we play.

“A lot of rock bands are elderly men so there might be some kind of prejudice.

“Margaret had a near-fatal brain aneurysm in 2000 and I survived breast cancer in 2004, hence our zest for life now.”

The sisters grew up in a musical household in Dagenham as their mum played the piano and their dad loved listening to classical music.

Their two brothers were also musicians, one a pianist and the other a singer.

They first danced on stage aged four-and-a-half and continued to do so into their teens.

At the age of 16 they appeared on talent show ‘Top Town’ and their London team won the competition.

Talent scout Barry Mason, who was famous for writing ‘Delilah’ and ‘Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)’, then spotted them at a gig in Worcester and took them under his wing.

They joined ‘Vicki and her Ladybirds’ and continued to travel all over Britain.

Mrs Bailey explained: “We all lived together in a flat in Maida Vale, London.

“I remember having a party there and two of the Rolling Stones came along which was great fun.

“We had bodyguards at some of the gigs as crowds would go scatty over us and literally would scream as we played to them.

“One fan asked Margaret if it was true that she was married to Mick Jagger to which she replied 'no comment!'

“Another over-enthusiastic young man jumped onto the stage and was immediately pulled off the stage by a bodyguard. Unbelievable.”

The group eventually split and Margaret went on to join ‘The Phantom Raiders’ band after marrying bass player Alan Merrick, while Patricia played folk gigs with her then-boyfriend.

Patricia added: “It was during this time that Margaret and I weren't so close, in fact I didn't even know she was in France entertaining at the American air bases, including the one that Elvis Presley was based at.

“Sad to say we never met him though.

“I approached an agent looking for work as a singer in a band as I was missing 60's style music and this agent said 'why don't you join your sister in France with The Phantoms?'”

Patricia then joined the band and flew to Paris where she met her husband-to-be, guitarist Joe Bailey.

“It was the saddest day of my life when he died two years ago...”

Between them, the sisters have seven children, 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, with two more on the way.

They even appeared on the X Factor in the late-2000s.

“We passed three auditions and it was televised, but my husband recorded over it,” explained Patricia.

“We met Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne, it was great fun.”

Two years ago, Patricia’s husband of 55 years Joe passed away after living with multiple sclerosis (MS) for 39 years.

She added: “Joe was a brilliant guitarist but developed MS which affected his fingers badly and he had to stop playing his beloved guitar.

“It was the saddest day of my life when he died two years ago.”

To honour his memory, the sisters reformed their double act as ‘Great Grannies Rock’ and have been playing gigs to raise money for the MS Society’s south-east branch.

Their latest performance on June 17 attracted crowds at the bandstand in Ashford town centre where they raised £100.

While they hope to continue using their talents to support the cause, the twins are also open to bookings.