Sarah Jessica Parker and her husband Matthew Broderick are expecting twins through a surrogate pregnancy, they announced today.

Surrogate help: Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker want a bigger family

The Hollywood couple released a statement confirming that they were and “happily anticipating the birth of their twin daughters later this summer with the generous help of a surrogate”.

The couple, who wed in 1997, already have one son, James, six, and have long wanted to add to their family, but without success.

A friend revealed: “They had a lot of unsuccessful tries. They came to the conclusion that this was going to be the best alternative for expanding their family.”

Sex And The City star Parker, 44, and Broderick, 47, who is best known for his 1986 comedy Ferris Bueller's Day Off, turned to a surrogate — whose name and place of residence have not been disclosed — last year.

The friend said: “They're over the moon and excited as any prospective parents would be. Their life is about to get a lot busier.”

The announcement has come in spite of reports of marital problems and Broderick has faced accusations of infidelity. But Parker strongly rejected the rumours that her husband had cheated on her with a 21-year-old youth worker, stating: “We don't even bother to address them [the rumours].”

However, last year, Parker described the marriage as “a treacherous train ride”, saying of Broderick: “I'm really lucky that he is the father of my son.But that doesn't mean we always agree on everything.”

Parker is currently filming Did You Hear About The Morgans? a romantic comedy, in which she stars opposite Hugh Grant. A sequel to her 2008 hit Sex And The City film is also in the pipeline.

Broderick is currently starring in the Broadway show The Philanthropist. His latest film, the drama Wonderful World, premiered at New York's TriBeCa Film Festival earlier this week.

Celebrities who have had twins through surrogate pregnancy include Robert De Niro, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Quaid, Angela Bassett and Ricky Martin.