AN EAST Lancashire supermum who has 12 children has been told by doctors to stop having kids but now says she wants a job working with babies!

Julie O'Neill, 41, had her first child 21 years ago. But when she gave birth to little Jenson two years ago, doctors told her another pregnancy would put her life in danger.

Julie suffered a leg infection and almost had to undergo an amputation, with doctors warning this should be Julie and partner Steven Jakovlevs last child.

But now she says if she can't have any more of her own she will get a job working with youngsters instead.

The couple, of Stacksteads, Rossendale, never imagined they would have such a big family. But after having first daughter Jodie-Lee in 1985 the childhood sweethearts got the baby bug - and just kept going.

Soon after Jodie came: Steven, 19; then Georgina, who would have been 18 now but died shortly after being born prematurely; Arron, 15; Riga-Marie, 13; Lucy-Anne, 12; Callum, 10; Gina-Louise, nine; Luca-Jane, eight; Mia-Bella, seven; Blousy-May, five; Forlan, three; and Jenson, 23 months.

Julie, a full-time mum, said: "I always loved babies, even as a child I always wanted children. I'm one of five children and my mum had a baby later in life and I helped look after him.

"I suppose being a mum is the one thing I'm good at. Even now when I see a pregnant woman I get jealous. But after I had Jenson I got terrible swelling and an infection in my leg. The doctors nearly had to amputate and told me that if I had another baby I could die, so that has made the decision for me I can't have any more."

Steven, 42, added: "I like children I just never imagined I would end up with 12 of my own."

The hard-working couple, who don't rely on benefits, live at an extended semi-detached house. Steven works as an HGV driver and Julie says she'd love to get a job when her youngest two start school - looking after babies.

Julie said: "I've been very fortunate. Steven has always had a good job so I have been able to stay at home with the children.

"But when they are all at school I would be bored. I'd love to get a job working with babies I think they are just gorgeous."