TEN loaves of bread, 44 pints of milk … this makes up just part of the Pugh family weekly shopping list. And if you think that's a lot to bring home, proud parents Rob and Alison now have another addition to their household – the tenth family member – a bouncing baby girl.

By Amanda Cresswell

TEN loaves of bread, 44 pints of milk … this makes up just part of the Pugh family weekly shopping list.

And if you think that's a lot to bring home, proud parents Rob and Alison now have another addition to their household – the tenth family member – a bouncing baby girl.

Former nanny Alison gave birth to her eighth child, 7lb Katie at Ipswich Hospital's Brook Ward this month.

So many children under one roof may seem like a handful, but Alison takes it all in her stride.

"Eight children hard work? Not really. You get used to it," said the 36-year-old, who also works part-time as a lifeguard and swimming teacher.

"My husband and I always wanted a large family. I have a friend who has seven children, but I don't know anyone who has got quite as many as us. But as for anymore … that's it. Four boys and four girls is nice and even."

Katie is sister to Ben, 12, Charlotte, 10, Emily, nine, Jack, seven, Megan, six, Sam, three, and 21-month old Harry, who all live in a four bedroom home in Caledonia Road, Shotley.

Katie's parents don't come from large families. Alison has one brother and her husband, Rob, 39, who works at BT, has two sisters.

After the birth of Ben the pair wanted to expand their family and wouldn't change it for the world.

"They are all just perfect, lovely. They are all really good with Katie," said Alison, a former nursery nurse, who uses a minibus to get her family out and about.

Alison, who admits being organised, said that while they don't go mad with presents at Christmas time, birthdays are always that little bit special.

Rob said it takes a while to get the weekly shopping done and added: "We do a monthly shop – every week!"

He said family allowance every four weeks helps a bit with the cost. The family gets £13.75 for Ben as the first child, and £10.53 for the others.

Meanwhile, this new addition means the clan still has a little way to go to make up a complete football team.

But footie could still be on the cards. The family has the same number of males and females – so there's enough for an in-house battle-of-the-sexes five-a-side football match.

Rob added: "I had thought about a vasectomy before, and I'll probably go for it now, but then again, I might not!"