Britain's Biggest Family Just Got Bigger!
Britain's biggest family has just got even bigger as proud parents Sue and Noel Radford are celebrating the birth of their 18th child - a baby girl named Hallie Alphia.
Mrs Radford, 39, announced the news on the family's website, describing the couple's 7lb 15oz daughter as "beautiful".
The Radfords, who run a successful bakery business in Morecambe, Lancashire, and do not claim any state benefits, said little Hallie was settling in with her older brothers and sisters, and refused to rule out having more children in the future.
The newborn's middle name is a tribute to her brother Alfie, the couple's 17th child, who they lost 26 weeks into Mrs Radford's pregnancy last year.
When she announced her 18th pregnancy in December, Mrs Radford - whose eldest son Chris is 26 - said she had been worried for the new baby after the family's heartbreak, and said they had picked a name "with meaning".
Writing on their website, Mrs Radford said she had gone to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary on Tuesday last week for what she thought would be a check up, only to be induced and she ended up giving birth the following day.
"We are so thrilled to announce the safe arrival of our beautiful precious baby girl Hallie Alphia Beau Radford Born on June 3, 2015 weighing 7lb 15oz," she said.
"On Tuesday evening I decided to go the hospital just to get a check up as she hadn't been moving the same as she usually did at that time of the day."
"I thought they would just put me on a monitor for half an hour and then be sent home but that was not to be even after a good trace they decided to induce me due to reduced movements. I was so relieved as I've been so anxious this last few weeks and particularly that day."
"We would just like to thank all the staff at the RLI for the fantastic care we've received throughout my pregnancy and her safe arrival."
"She’s so doted on by all her brothers and sisters and is settling in really well. We are so in love with her."
