A woman diagnosed with early menopause has been told her only chance of having children is through IVF – at a cost of more than £8,000.

Childhood sweethearts Laura and John Beeney have been trying to have a baby since marrying in 2012.

Mrs Beeney, 23, who grew up in Paddock Wood, fell pregnant in March 2013 but miscarried 11 weeks later.

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The former Mascalls School pupil underwent numerous tests and after nearly two years of investigation she was told she may be eligible for IVF.

But a final set of results revealed Mrs Beeney’s egg reserve is too low and she is going through early menopause.

Mrs Beeney, who lived on Bullion Close in Paddock Wood, has been told time is of the essence and is now fundraising to pay for private treatment as she’s not eligible for NHS funding.

The hairdresser said: “We were back and forward to the hospitals for months, they put me on some tablets to encourage ovulation, but they didn’t work.

“When we got the bad news I didn’t really understand what I was being told at first, it was very confusing. I felt quite alone.

“It’s quite uncommon and I didn’t know what it meant for us.

“You think about menopause in older women, but not in your 20s. We didn’t really know what to do.”

Eligible couples are offered two IVF cycles funded by the NHS, dependent on various criteria.

After being refused funding because of her low egg count, Mrs Beeney and her husband John, 27, who have been together for eight years, saw a private clinician who confirmed it would cost £8,500.

The couple have launched a fundraising campaign in a bid to fulfil their dream of having a family.

NHS watchdog NICE says women under the age of 40 should be offered three IVF cycles if they have failed to conceive naturally for two years, but just one in six health boards in England is providing the recommended cycles to eligible couples.

Mr and Mrs Beeney will be holding a charity event at Capel Village Hall in Falmouth Place, Five Oak Green on Saturday, June 18 at 7pm.

There will be a disco, food, a bar and raffle.

To donate visit tinyurl.com/ljbeeney