Tania and Mike Sullivan with just some of their children

For many parents, a trip to the seaside can prove challenging with bored children demanding to know when the journey ends.

So spare a thought for Tania and Mike Sullivan who set off on a two-month road trip today with 10 of their children.

The couple, from Hoo, near Rochester, have packed up their 17-seater minibus and will spend the next nine weeks travelling across Europe on the holiday of a lifetime.

Joining them will be five-month-old Isobel Maria, toddler twins Anna and Libby, as well as Caitlin, Harry, Eddie, Sid, Patrick, Oliver and Joseph.

The family will travel through France, Italy and Switzerland.

Full-time mother Tania, 38, prides herself on not being on benefits and says she never takes a night off or hires a babysitter.

She also insists on home schooling all her children in their five-bedroom home.

"we haven't yet worked out if we are completely crazy to do this or if we're showing the kids how to make the most of life..." – tania sullivan

The family lives off 40-year-old Mike's business - Sullivan Joinery and Crafts - and claim no state handouts apart from tax credits and child benefit.

Mother-of-twelve Tania, who also has two older children from a previous relationship, said: "It's been a dream of ours to visit Italy.

"As the years passed and our family grew we talked about packing up and taking to the road - not just visiting Italy but making a proper trip out of it.

"We haven't yet worked out if we are completely crazy to do this or if we're showing the kids how to make the most of life.

"This going to be the education of a lifetime for all of us. The children are finding it hard to contain their excitement now."

Tania's oldest children Ben, 19 and Stephanie, 18, have since left home and are not going on the trip.

But as well as the joy of parenting, Tania has experienced huge heartache after suffering eight miscarriages over the years.

In total, she has conceived an incredible 20 times and has had to endure the pain of losing a child - as well as the joy of a new baby - more than most.

But she shows no sings of slowing down with a third book in the pipeline as well as running a successful website about her family.