A GWENT mum of nine is looking forward to her tenth baby - despite a report saying it costs an average of £164,000 to raise a child.

The survey conducted by Woolworths found that each child now costs more than the price of the average three-bedroom terrace house.

According to the figures, Joy Edmonds' family will cost more than a million pounds. But Mrs Edmonds, 45, of Nash, says that her family is worth every penny.

Mrs Edmonds and her husband, Terry, a steelworker, were married 25 years ago last November.

Now they have James, 24, Mark, 22, Matthew, 20, Adam, 18, Luke, 15, Hannah, 13, Lauren, 11, Thomas, seven, and Emily, three. Their tenth child is due in December.

Mrs Edmonds said: "I never planned to have a big family, but I just love babies and children. It's been expensive but I think it's worth every penny. "Sometimes it has been hard to make ends meet, but we've been very happy.

"Seeing the figure there in black and white is quite frightening, but I would do it all again."

Mrs Edmonds, who became a grandmother two years ago, is proud of all her children and says that they all make a contribution.

Family achievements so far include those of Matthew, who is a champion amateur boxer and was recently made Welsh Young Sportsman of the Year.

The Woolworths report says that the most costly age is five to 11, when parents spend £70,368. School uniform and sports kit cost £6,000, and clothes, food and toys a further £18,000.

A student can set mum and dad back £30,000 in university fees expenses, which the Edmonds are budgeting for with Adam going to the University of Glamorgan this year.

How the costs add up

The Edmonds' weekly expenses and income with seven of their nine children still at home: Groceries - £200 Clothes - £50 School dinners - £30 Toys and games - £30 Entertainment - £30 Bills and mortgage - £150 Total - £490 Terry's wages - £310 Child benefit - £90 Total - £400

Plus Family Tax Credit of approximately £25,000 a year, multiplied by the 42 years that children are living at home works out at more than £1 million.