There must be something in the water of Co Tyrone. After the birth of the Conway sextuplets and the Loughran’s quintuplets in 2002, people have been left asking what is it about the area that has produced two natural multiple births over recent years.

Noel and Rhonda Loughran, parents to Tyrone’s other set of miracle babies, have put on show their weekly grocery shopping for their quintuplets and other son Niall.

It maybe used as a blueprint for the new residents due to arrive home 10miles away in Dunamore.

Former record breaking mum Rhonda Loughran said: “It’s crazy when you think about it” after finding out about how close the Conways lived.

“I was just scared when I heard about the babies because that mother has no idea what lies ahead of her, she hasn’t a clue. When I look back I really wonder how we did it.”

Now six-years-old, the Loughran quintuplets are growing up fast, thanks in part to their love of food.

Rhonda said: “They have massive appetites, you’ve never seen anything like it. They literally eat us out of house and home.”

The Loughrans easily spend £250 a week on a basic weekly shop to feed their brood, not including meat and milk which they buy separately.

Current favourites at the Loughran household include pancakes with Nutella chocolate spread.

“That’s their favourite at the minute, the amount of pancakes we go through would frighten you,” explained Rhonda.

“When people come to our house and see me cooking all this food they can’t believe the kids will eat it all.

“And then they do and ask for more, we can’t keep up.” Multiple births run in both Rhonda and Noel’s families, but they still didn’t prepare them for their five special deliveries.

Noel said: “We used to joke about it before we were married, but only a joke.

“It turns your life upside down, nothing is ever the same.”

Rhonda has offered some words of advice to young mum Nuala: “I hear they have a big family so that will help.

“But she needs to get them into a routine as soon as she can and she needs to be the boss.

“The routine is the most important thing but I’m sure she’ll be fine. You have to cope so you just do.”

In just one week the Loughran quintuplets work their way through

210 pancakes

108 biscuits

26litres of milk

30kg of potatoes

6 loaves of bread

7 boxes of cereal

10 litres of concentrated juice

20 bananas

40 sausages

1kg of butter

20 yoghurts

5 large packets of cooked ham

24 packets of crisps

3kg of carrots

2kg of frozen chips

4 pepperoni pizzas

5 tins of custard

A basic weekly shop costs the family upwards of £250