I became stepmum to 8 CHILDREN!'

Life changed dramatically for Nic Davies when her family quadrupled overnight

When single mother Nic Davies' children were 20 and 16, she believed she was finally getting her freedom back but just a year after starting a relationship with her now-husband Adrian, she suddenly became a full-time stepmum to eight children.

'The changes - emotional, mental and physical - were incredible and, at times, extremely hard,' the 49-year-old from Lancashire, admits. 'But I wouldn't change my supersize family for the world.' Nic was introduced to fellow single parent Adrian, now 56, through a mutual friend in late 2012. They started spending time together in a wider group, but as the months passed, their friendship developed.

'I always knew that he had eight children and that he hadn't been broken up from their mum for long. That's probably why we remained friends at first, Nic explains. 'As a mum myself, I realise children always come first and questioned whether he'd have room for me in his life. But I felt so content with him and we got on so well, it became impossible to deny our feelings.

The two started a relationship in July 2013 and, after a few months, Nic started meeting Adrian's children. 'We kept it very informal, and at first, Adrian described me as his friend, Nic says. 'They were lovely children and we got on really well.

By December that year, Adrian had moved in with Nic and her son, then 16, and they saw his children during weekends and school holidays.

But in June 2014, Adrian's ex-partner passed away suddenly and that same day, the five youngest children, aged between two and 10, moved in with them permanently. Overnight, their household went from a modest three to a staggering eight.