IT'S not unusual to see minibuses packed full of kids and kit as you drive along the busy M5 on Bank Holiday Monday en route to Minehead.

Half-term is well underway and mums and dads across the land are praying for sunshine and a hassle-free holiday.

But one minibus headed for to the beach is different to all the rest it seems to be noisier, crazier and packed even more tightly than all the others.

This is no ordinary minibus and it's certainly no ordinary family.

Welcome to holidaying Povey-style with Britain's biggest brood Swindon's very own Povey family.

Parents Sue and Ian hired a 17-seater minibus to take their 15 offspring to Butlins at Minehead for half-term.

The family were offered the free holiday shortly after Christmas so, for the youngest members of the family, the excitement has been building for months and it shows.

Ever since they left their home in Poynings Way, Grange Park, several of the younger children have been chorusing "Are we nearly there yet?" and "How much longer to go?"

But Sue quietly smiles and steps in if things get too rowdy while dad Ian just gets on with the driving.

It takes a day for the family to pack up their belongings and another day to unload them so, according to Sue, there'll only be one day at Butlins when things aren't on the move.

She's packed enough clothes for everyone so that she won't be faced with the daunting task of doing the laundry.

And, after 15 pregnancies and 24 years of motherhood she's fairly confident she hasn't forgotten anything.

For most parents, the idea seems like hell on earth, but the Poveys wouldn't have it any other way.

Most of the family are more than aware they're mini-celebrities now purely because they have so many brothers and sisters.

On arrival, the media beckons and the children moan and groan.

A national newspaper has arrived to meet the family and take a few pictures.

"Not another photo, mum," pleads six-year-old Abbie, Povey number 12.

"Shush," says Sue. "You always moan about the pictures but you always love to see yourself in the paper the next day."

The children are spruced up and dutifully pose, gaining a few freebie buckets, spades and inflatable balls in the process.

"Look what we've got!" screams nine-year-old Katie, who is labelled the prima donna by her mum.

"They're all very different characters," says Sue. "The older ones often act as nannies to the younger ones.

"We're always doing a head count for fear of losing someone, but so far we've never had any problems."

The family will stay at Butlins in three self-catered chalets until the end of the week.

Mum and dad's chalet takes the form of Povey HQ where there are two children in one room, two in another, one sleeping on the sofa and the youngest, 15-month-old Isobel, in with them.

In the neighbouring chalets there is a similar set-up.

Tea-time beckons, so to give mum a break from cooking, countless pizzas are ordered, while the bedtime shift starts for the youngest children.

Bedtime usually starts at 6pm and happens in 30-minute waves but on holiday the rules are relaxed a little.

Those allowed to stay up later go out to explore camp with dad while mum stays at HQ for a rest.

Ever since they've arrived, there's been a constant buzz of activity as children run in and out, asking for crisps, toys, footballs and attention.

This is the family's first visit to Butlins and they say they'll make the most of everything the camp has to offer.

Yesterday they enjoyed a morning at the funfair with the eldest children daring their dad to tackle the white-knuckle rides with them.

Having had a few beers the night before, dad wasn't up for much fairground excitement but made an exception for the merry-go-round after almost all the family eagerly jumped on.

Sue stood on the sidelines, watching as her children and her husband waved and shouted to her.

She knows she won't get much time alone with her husband this holiday but, if and when she does, she certainly hasn't ruled out Povey number 16.

Emma-Kate Lidbury