The (p, t) reaction on j6Fe and "Ni initiated by 24.6 MeV polarised protons has been investigated. The reaction process is described in terms of simultaneous and sequential neutron transfer. For all five final states studied the sequential process competes strongly with simultaneous transfer of a neutron pair. Theoretical values for the spectroscopic amplitudes were derived from shell-model wavefunctions; these seem to give a reliable description of the reaction process.NUCLEAR REACTIONS 56Fe, S8Ni(polarised p, t), E@) = 24.6 MeV; measured o(Et, e), A(Et, e), deduced J , n. CRC calculations; simultaneous and sequential neutron transfer.