The Kilshaws failed to win custody of the twins

The bankruptcy order was made by an official receiver in Chester, and notices appeared in Welsh newspapers on Tuesday.

The solicitor and his wife voluntarily moved out of their £230,000 seven-bedroom farmhouse in Buckley, north Wales, last year following a repossession order.

It followed a drawn out and costly legal battle for the girls who were eventually returned to the US last April.

The internet adoption saga began after the couple paid £8,200 to adopt identical twin girls from a baby broker in the US in January 2001.

It later emerged the girls had already been "sold" to another couple and the natural parents also claimed them.

Re: Alan Kilshaw of Whitehouse farm Well Street Buckley Flintshire practising at an unknown address as A Solicitor as Messrs Lightens and Messrs Ellis & Co - on 12 March 2002, Rhyl County Court

Bankruptcy notice in Western Mail

Soon after the government announced plans to crack down on the internet adoption of children as part of the Adoption and Children Bill imposing stricter restrictions.

Last week the couple hit the headlines again after announcing plans to release a charity record in aid of Wrexham Football Club.

Meet the Kilshaws features the husband and wife singing and will raise funds for the struggling Division Two side.

They are also planning a concert in support of the club.

In an interview with comedian Johnny Vegas for Channel 4's Big Breakfast programme, Mrs Kilshaw denied exploiting their notoriety: "We're not cashing in because all the money from that single will go to the charity."

She added: "We're doing a charity gig and it's all for Wrexham Football Club, I was asked to do it."