Strange Affair: Meet The Husband, Wife And Lover Living Under The SAME Roof

"I grew even closer to Peter," says Maria. "Paul had to go away on business for a few weeks and so Peter took the children shopping, ­spoiling them rotten with gifts."

But on Valentine's Day in 2010, Maria says she could no longer cope with the secrecy. "I began to feel more and more that my future lay with Peter," she says. "So I confessed my affair to Paul, and moved out to stay with Peter."

Paul and the children were devastated. He says: "I was just shocked and heartbroken. I couldn't believe Maria had left me."

Over the next few months Paul and Maria took turns to have the children. "I felt bad about tearing the family apart," says Maria. "So after work I'd go and clean and cook for Paul and the kids and then go home to Peter."

Paul says: "While I was so upset, I decided to try to put the children first. It was going to be much better if we could all be mature adults and be amicable about it. I could see Peter was a decent guy. When the kids went to stay over I knew he was putting himself out to make sure they were happy. I'd go to pick them up and we got chatting."

Over the next year their relationship became even more amicable. Maria says: "Rather than cook two separate dinners, it was easier to just do one and all sit down together. Paul and Peter got on so well they went on a fishing trip together. We even started going on days out and holidays together.

"It was strange but I noticed I felt at my happiest when we were all together. The children adored having both of them around too."

Then in November 2012 the tenancy on Peter's rented flat came to an end. He went to stay with a friend and Maria moved back to the family home. Maria says: "It was supposed to be a temporary arrangement but while I missed Peter terribly, it was fantastic to be back as a family."

When Peter found another flat, Maria decided it was time to sit both men down and be honest with them. "I said I loved them both," she says. "I said I couldn't face living without either of them."

To her delight, both men said they understood.

Peter says: "By now Paul and I had developed a huge respect for each other. We didn't see one another as rivals for Maria's affections. We were friends who got on well. At the same time I'd come to care so much for the children. It seemed natural to live together."

Paul says: "Maria was and still is my soulmate."

The "family" are now in the process of buying a larger house to accommodate them all.

Maria admits many friends and family find the arrangement difficult to understand.