A pregnant Gravesend mum-of-nine has pulled her children out of school to go on a £5,000 holiday.

Cheryl Prudham, 32, and husband Robert, 29, could face a fine of more than £800 for taking their family on a two-week break without permission.

The couple, who live in Hampton Crescent, currently claim £38,000 in benefits and tax credits - which could rise by £1,400 when their twin girls are born in September.

Cheryl said she had been refused permission from the headteacher to withdraw her children - but went ahead and did it anyway.

She said: "We told them but you can't get it authorised."

Robert added: "I know what will happen but I don't care. It's our holiday and that's it."

The couple together have Leon, four, Lenny, two, and one-year-old Lainey.

News Shopper: Gravesend mum of nine children is pregnant again- with twin girls

Cheryl has George, 14, Jack, 13, Caitlin, nine, Maisie, eight, Millie, six and Madison, five, from previous relationships.

Fines of £60 per child, per parent, are levied for unauthorised school absences, rising to £120 if they are not paid within 21 days.

The family could face a total penalty of £840.

They were seen lapping up the 24C sun at the three-star, 266-bed, all-inclusive Hotel Victoria Playa in Menorca's Santo Tomas resort.

Cheryl, who is five months pregnant, sat smoking as she and Robert watched the kids play by the pool after jetting out on May 16.

They chatted as the children played in the wooded grounds of the complex yesterday.

When confronted, Cheryl said she had no problem smoking while pregnant.

News Shopper:

The hotel where the family are staying (image by booked.net). 

She said: "I'm not drinking though, am I?

"I asked my midwife and she said to me it would be worse if I give up because I would get too stressed out. So I've cut down."

Last month Cheryl revealed she would finally be getting sterilised after the twins.

The couple each work 20 hours a week as carers for the elderly which brings in just under £1,400-a-month, putting them below the threshold for paying income tax.

Because they are entitled to working tax credits of £70-a-week, they are not affected by the benefit cap, which restricts handouts for many.

They also get £400-a-week in child tax credits.

Last year the couple tried to move from their three-bedroom house in Sittingbourne because it was too small for the family.

They were turned down by Swale Council but found a family on Facebook who wanted to downsize from their five-bedroom Gravesend council home allowing the Prudhams to move in.