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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Amber Hicks

Britain's biggest family share tear-jerking photo of stillborn baby's grave

Britain's biggest family the Radfords have shared a tear-jerking photo of son Alfie's grave - five years after his death.

Mum Sue, 44, and dad, Noel, 48, who are expecting baby number 22, have decorated the tot's grave with red tinsel, a snowman, as well as a cheeky elf and a robin.

Alfie was stillborn in 2014 leaving the family grief-stricken.

Posting on Instagram , the family wrote: "Merry Christmas Alfie".

A Christmas tree and other plants have also been left beside the heart-shaped headstone.

'Supermum' Sue admitted in the comments: "It feels especially hard this year without my dad and Noel’s mum but you have to carry on for the children don’t you x."

Tot Alfie's grave, which has been given a festive makeover (theradfordfamily/Instagram)

The family, from Morecambe, announced that Alfie was stillborn on July 6, 2014.

A Facebook post read: "Our beautiful baby boy Alfie Thomas was born sleeping at 7.53am today. He was so perfect in every way.

"Our hearts are breaking, you will always be a huge part of our lives, Alfie, know that we loved you very much."

Alfie's tragic death came almost a year after Sue suffered a miscarriage with baby number 17.

They discovered during their 12-week scan that the tot had died - a day after they announced they were expecting another baby.

They are Britain's biggest family (LeeMcLean/SWNS)

The Radfords first found fame in 2012 when their lives were the focus of a Channel 4 documentary called 15 Kids and Counting.

Baby  Bonnie   was the last addition to the brood in November bringing the number of children to a whopping 21.

She arrived after a swift 12 minute labour weighing 8lb 4oz - and the couple, who have been having children for three decades, vowed she would be their last and had completed their family.

However, they are now expecting another baby girl in the new year.

They live with the majority of their kids in a 10-bed, four-storey Victorian property, which was a former care home, which they bought almost 15 years ago.

Just over a quarter of the children get cosy in their festive bedding (Instagram)

Sue and Noel run their own pie business and do not claim extra state benefits.

Some of the oldest offspring have since moved out and started families of their own with Sue and Noel being grandparents to four.

The Radford children are: Chris, 30, Sophie, 26, Chloe, 24, Jack, 23, Daniel, 21, Luke, 19, Millie, 18, Katie, 16, James, 15, Ellie, 13, Aimee, 13, Josh, 12, Max, 10, Tillie, eight, Oscar, seven, Casper, six, Hallie, four, Phoebe, three, and Archie, two, and Bonnie, one.

Bonnie had the same due date as tragic Alfie.

After Archie was born, the couple said it was "strange" knowing he would be their last.

The Radford family is set to get even bigger next year (Channel 4)

And when the entire family appeared on ITV's This Morning in January 2018, Sue said: "Archie is definitely going to be the last Radford baby."

But eldest daughter Sophie, who has three kids herself, shook her head and claimed she "can't see her mum stopping" - and she wasn't wrong as months later Sue fell pregnant with Bonnie.

Childhood sweethearts Sue and Noel's first child, Chris, was born when Sue was aged just 14.

The parents were both given up for adoption after they were born, and they decided to keep Chris and raise him as teenage parents.

They got married and had their second child, Sophie, when Sue was 17.

The Radfords when they had 13 kids, ready for Christmas back in 2008 (Manchester Evening News Syndication)

Noel even had a vasectomy, later reversed, after baby number nine.

The pair face a monumental task each day just to feed, clothe and ferry about their huge brood.

They spend an estimated £30,000 a year of their own money bringing up their children - including birthdays with a reported budget of £100 per child and Christmas at £100 to £250 per child.

In addition, they also have a holiday abroad each year.

And as we the family keep their home immaculate - as they proved in a house tour of their 'gorgeous' home.

Sue has also given her kids' rooms a - and people love it.

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