Heartbreaking' UK's first surrogate mother to close agency as demand soars

Much has changed since Kim Cotton became the UK's first surrogate mother 40 years ago, when she was forced to flee from hospital on the floor of a car under a blanket, such was the level of media frenzy.

- Jessica Murray

She described it as a harrowing experience, and wishes much of that surrogacy journey had been different. "It wasn't the right way to do surrogacy, but it was the only thing that was offered," she said.

It did not put her off surrogacy, and helped form a "profound passion" for empowering others to follow a similar path in a supportive environment. She also became a surrogate mother for twins born in 1991, which she described as a beautiful experience.

She has spent decades running surrogacy agency Cots (Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy), facilitating more than 1,000 pregnancies. But in September she is closing its doors as soaring demand and a lack of surrogates is making the job more stressful.

Cotton said: "I get phone calls every day from couples, often in tears - the desperation is just heartbreaking. It's terrible."