Meet the pint-size Picasso who picked up a brush at six months old
By Freddie Noble
Meet pint-sized Picasso – the world’s youngest male artist who first picked up a brush at just six months old.
Little Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah, now 22 months, created his first masterpiece – a “vibrant abstract piece” – aged six months after his parents set up the activity to keep him entertained.
His mum, Chantelle Kuuka-Eghan, 25, immediately noticed her son’s artistic ability and encouraged him to keep expressing himself through art.
Since then Ace-Liam has painted 30 abstract pictures using bright colours and his paintings started to gain traction after his mum set up his Instagram account.
He’s gone on to exhibit his artwork in galleries and also sells his paintings – which range from a $200 to $1k each.
Ace-Liam has sold 11 pieces so far, including nine at auction at the Science and Technology Museum in Accra, Ghana – becoming the youngest person to exhibit a painting there.
The tot was officially declared the world’s youngest painter at one year and 152 days by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Proud mum Chantelle said: “It was quite nerve-wracking because there were people that had also applied for Guinness World Record but most of them were disqualified.
“While waiting for the result, I was so nervous and anxious, thinking maybe we could be in the same situation as them.
“However, he was the first person to receive a successful email – making him the youngest painter in the world.
“As much as he is into art and got this recognition, he’ll grow up to be a normal kid but with a little bit less spotlight.”
At six month old Ace-Liam picked up the paint brush for the first time and his mum said he could “barely” hold it.
She said: “He could barely hold his brush so he used his palms and he also tried to stand up, so you can see his footprint as well.
“When he was around 11 months I had no idea he knew how to dip a brush into paint and put it onto a canvas.
“He started choosing his own colours and learning which colours match with each other because sometimes he would pick pink and then he would match it with purple.”
Ace-Liam displayed 10 of his artworks at the Science and Technology Museum in when he was 1 year 4 month.
Most of his paintings use a technique where the painting is moved across the canvas using hands and feet to create a unique finish.
Chantelle said: “I have given him his own studio space and I have set up everything in a way that is to his height.
“He goes there and reaches and paints himself and choses the colours, even the brush size he wants to use.
“When he is extremely happy he goes in for neon colours and sometimes he gets a little bit relaxed and just wants to try out new things.
“When I get him a new sets of paint, he goes more to the multi colours but I think his favourite colour is pink as well.”
In June, 2023 Chantelle entered Ace-Liam into the Guinness World Records and said she was “confident” that Ace-Liam would get the record.
She said: “We applied in June 2023. One of the rules is that it had to be attempted by a male and by someone who paints.
“They mention that the person has to be a part of a professional arts exhibition.
“I was super excited because I was nervous prior to getting the result just because other people had attempted the record and have been disqualified.
“At the same time I was very confident because I had taken my time to read the rules.”
On May 13, 2024, Ace-Liam received the news he had become the world’s youngest painter but his mum Chantelle said he is none the wiser.
She said: “He’s getting more attention than usual, frankly he doesn’t know what it is for.
“When he is on TV and there are cameras on him, usually there are requests for him to a live painting demonstration.”
Woman catfished by fake Gary Barlow meets the real deal
By Josie Adnitt
A woman who was catfished by a scammer pretending to be Gary Barlow met the singer after he saw her story and reached out to help.
Janet Smith, 62, believed she was talking to the Take That singer for about a week after she added him as a friend on Facebook.
But after the catfish bombarded her with compliments and told her he had “split up,” she grew suspicious and convinced the scammer to reveal their true identity.
The cheat said he was actually a 24-year-old man from Nigeria and was sorry for lying to her, but told Janet he really did love her and asked for cash.
The real Gary Barlow heard about what happened and invited her to Take That’s Carrow Road show in Norwich last night (28).
Before the gig, he met Janet, who gifted him a box of Milk Tray “for the boys.”
Pizza restaurant worker Janet, from Colchester, Essex, said: “Gary came running down the corridor saying hello and gave me a hug.
“He said he was so sorry about what happened and asked how I was – it was lovely.
“He came out with a jogging suit on. He wasn’t snobby. He was down to earth.
“I bought him a mug, some Mars bars, and some Milk Tray chocolates for the boys.
“He loved the mug and got a picture of us with it.
“He’s very kind – fame hasn’t gone to his head. It was like seeing a friend in the street.
“I told him I love dancing and showed him a dance, and he said ‘we need people like you’ and said he loved my vibe.
“I was laughing and he was laughing – he’s really kind and friendly. He gave me a cuddle and didn’t judge me.
“I always live each day like it could be your last. I don’t think he’s going to forget me.
“Even when he went he was shouting goodbye, it was wonderful.”
Janet believed she was speaking to the real “Back for Good” singer after adding what appeared to be his profile on Facebook on March 26.
However, she soon became suspicious that all was not as it seemed and realized the man she was speaking to couldn’t be the real Gary Barlow.
She managed to unmask the scammer after telling him he could have her WhatsApp number in exchange for his true identity.
The man confessed his love for her and said he came from a poor family, asking her for cash “to get some food in Nigeria.”
Janet said the whole experience had left her feeling “really guilty” and has shared her story to help others spot similar scammers in the future.
Man strikes up unlikely friendship with robins
By Lottie Vonhenning
A man has struck up an unlikely friendship with robins which he has hand fed every day for eleven years.
Karl Shelton, 49, was out walking his dog one day when one of the birds came down and flew onto the ground.
The following day, Karl returned to the same spot with a piece of flapjack.
Every day, the red-breasted garden bird got closer and closer, and Karl has now created a community of local robins that join him for a meal twice a day.
Karl started this habit 11 years ago and has fed some of the birds for up to seven years.
Karl, who lives in Bridgenorth, Shropshire, said: “One day, when I was out walking my dog, a robin came down and flew onto the ground where I was walking.
“The next day, I came back with a piece of flapjack and the robin got closer and closer day by day.
“I fed that robin for seven years in total until one day it just stopped showing up, which I suppose is just how it goes.
“The second robin that I met and began to feed also met with me every day for seven years; I named him Cash because he had a scar on his chin, just like Johnny Cash!”
As a full-time carer for his partner, who deals with chronic back joint pain and depression, Karl is rarely able to have a scheduled break.
His daily walks with his red fell terrier were a way to get him out of the house, and it has since become much more important.
Karl is now greeted by many robins each day and will feed them worms which he buys off of Amazon.
He said: “Robins are quite territorial but once the other nearby territories caught on, all the robins would come out and feed together.
“My partner loves to watch the videos as well. She is practically housebound, so it’s a nice treat for her to see the robins.”
Man befriends rescue squirrel – who now ‘helps’ him at work
A man has befriended a squirrel – who now visits him every day and “helps” in his jewelry shop.
Todd Alan, 61, started his business in 1986 and set up his first store in 1990.
In September last year, a neighbor found an injured squirrel in the road and brought it to Todd.
After bottle-feeding him every three hours for three weeks, Todd eventually nursed him back to health and named him Charlie.
Since then, Charlie has been a regular in the workshop – “helping” Todd work on all his projects.
Todd, of Sarasota in Florida, USA, said: “Charlie lived with us for a little while and commuted into work with me every day.
“He was interested in whatever I was holding or working on including pens, jewelry tools, pieces of jewelry and he was especially interested in my hands.
“We set up a tree, swings and other squirrel-appropriate fun items like coconut shells in the workshop for him.
“He enjoyed jumping around, exploring and playing in the workshop.”
In December last year, Todd decided it was time for Charlie to return to the wild.
He said: “We raised him to save him and not as a pet.
“We wanted to get him accustomed to the wild and took him outside daily.”
Initially, Charlie was gone for two days but he eventually returned.
Now he lives in the wild but visits Todd daily, usually early in the morning and around sunset.
The reaction on social media and in store has completely taken Todd by surprise, with people loving the squirrel who “works” in the jewelry store.
Todd said: “We have many Charlie fans.
“Customers who visit the store often ask about him and one fan even sent him nuts and a squirrel bed!
“The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive and surprising.”
Woman spends £384k transforming abandoned "one euro" house into dream home
By Emma Dunn and Hannah Van De Peer
An American woman turned an abandoned "one euro" house into a £384k dream home - with a spa, outdoor kitchen and wine cellar.
Meredith Tabbone, 45, decided to bid on a one euro house on a "whim" after her friend sent her an article on the scheme.
Bids started at just a euro - but she threw in a random offer of £4,400 - for a 1600s disused building in Sambuca di Sicilia in Sicily, Italy.
The building had no electricity or running water, and the roof was thick with asbestos.
Meredith bought the home next door for £27,000 and knocked through to create a four bedroom, five bathroom property.
She spent £384k and five years creating her dream vacation house fit with an outdoor kitchen, spa and an outdoor party room.
Meredith, a financial adviser, from Chicago, Illinois, US, said: “The house was in very bad condition - but in many ways, it was everything I expected it to be and more.
"It had so much charm.
“It had such interesting architectural detail - you could really see the history coming through the walls. But it was a fixer-upper, to say the least.
"It was worth it. It turned out well.
"It's modern but in keeping. It's a vacation home."
Meredith began researching how to get an Italian citizenship in 2016 and discovered her dad Michael's great-grandfather, Fillippo Tabbone, came from Sambuca di Sicilia - a small village in Sicily.
After reading an article on people bidding on one euro houses in Italy, Meredith threw in a bid in January 2019 and found out she has been successful in May of that year.
She started work on it a month later - spending £661 to remove the roof in an environmentally-safe way.
In August 2020, she bought the home next door via a private sale to knock through and create a 3,000 square foot property.
Meredith said: “When we first saw the house - it was 750 square feet, it had no electricity, running water or windows - and it was thick with asbestos.
“At first, the plan was just to turn it into a small getaway house.
“While we originally just wanted it as a tiny getaway - we’ve turned it into a dream home."
Meredith has bought two guest houses in the same village for £28k in total which will need minor repairs.
She also bought a disused building for £58k, which she's turning into an art gallery and apartment for artists to stay in.
Meredith is currently gathering the plans and workforce to start renovating the gallery later this year.
After five years of hard work, Meredith's holiday home was finally completed in April 2024 - and she now spends four months a year out in Italy.
She said: "It was very slow and tedious.
"The sunsets are spectacular."
Meredith recommends people consider buying a one euro home but said it's not for the faint hearted.
She said: "I went all in.
"If you can gather the strength it is worth it."
Mum told she would never walk again is competing to be the world's strongest woman
by Jake Meeus-Jones
A mum told she would never walk again after a freak rugby accident is competing to be crowned the world's strongest woman.
Nikki Ellerington, 45, says her sporting dreams were in tatters when she suffered a bad ankle break while playing rugby - with doctors telling her she'd likely never walk again.
After six to eight months of rehabilitation, Nikki defied the odds to take her first steps since her accident and even went on to be able to run 10km within three years.
Determined Nikki wasn't prepared to give up and soon began taking up cross-fit and training to get fit.
In October 2023, she was selected to compete in the over 40s category in the World Finals of the Official Strongman Games in Charleston, West Virginia, US, through an online qualifier.
The mum-of-four spent three days lifting huge weighted stones, sandbags, backpacks and 70kg metal blocks - and finished 21st out of 28 in her category.
Nikki has also gone on to compete at the Official Strongman Games in England and will soon be heading off to compete in Finland.
Nikki, a personal trainer, from Hull, East Yorkshire, said: "I'd been to Strongman expos over the years so it had always been an interest but I thought I wouldn't be able to do it.
"I wanted to start training with stones, logs and cars for example.
"It was quite daunting at first but your perspective changes when injuries happen and you just don't care.
"It was great out there in America.
"I wasn't out there long so I didn't see much of it, but sitting with my idols from a young age was amazing.
"You're sat sharing jokes and having a laugh with them, it was crazy.
"Doing the walkout with the national flags was really emotional too.
"I was the first out on stage so that was quite daunting. I came 21st overall. I was expecting to come last so I wasn't disappointed at all. I was really happy."
Nikki - who is mum to Callum, 21, Lena, 19, Darcy, 16 and Neil, 13 - says if she hadn't done well or enjoyed her first-ever competition, she might not have continued.
She said: "The gym I did the first competition at now sponsors me.
"But I've always said that if it had been a horrible experience I probably wouldn't have done it again.
"It was quite hard for me to accept the changes to my body and that I was going to get bigger when I started lifting weights.
"My upper body has really changed."
An avid Strongman fan, having attended Strongman expos across the country, Nikki decided she wanted to give it a go in February 2023.
After some intense training, she entered her first competition - coming fourth.
Soon she was winning competitions, but at the same time, another problem with her other ankle arose in April 2023.
Doctors told Nikki she had sprained her ankle and she continued to train, but in August it was revealed that she had in fact broken it.
Thankfully, when she contacted the organisers of the Official Strongman Games, she was told she could still compete.
She said: "I was worried that that was going to be another setback until I was signed off from the clinic about two weeks before I flew to America.
"It was around six to eight weeks between the time it started hurting and the actual diagnosis.
"It then healed itself. I've been so lucky.
"I found out at the last minute I had my place. I asked them to take into account I'd been injured and they told me I'd qualified anyway, which was great."
With little to support her trip, Nikki turned to fundraising to raise around £1,800 to allow her to live out her dream.
She said: "I had no money to get there so we did fundraising events at work, the gym, with family and friends and everyone was so supportive.
"I had to fuel up properly.
"I brought in a nutritionist and she helps me with my food, my mental health and she's kept me grounded - she's a genius. I've also got a coach for the training side of things.
"The first challenge was an overhead medley - which was an axle press, a dumbbell press and a yoke press which is like a big frame and lastly a block press that weighed 70kg.
"The next was a frame carry with the frames shipped over from Australia.
"No one had seen or used them before. I struggled with that, a lot of us did.
"The final day was a deadlift with a weighted backpack and carrying a sandbag whilst pulling a sled."
Nikki has since gone on to compete in England’s Strongest Woman competition, finishing in 8th place and has qualified for Official Strongman Games Europe.
She said: "Only the top 10 per category qualify for Europe and it's hard work to qualify."
Dad turns Henry vacuum into mini-motorbike
By Sally Murrer and Douglas Whitbread
An eccentric dad has revealed how he turned a Henry vacuum cleaner into a mini ride-on motorbike.
Systems engineer Allan Gallop, 35, worked with a team of enthusiasts to fit the broken appliance with a two-stroke 50cc engine, handlebars and new wheels.
And the retrofitted machine can now achieve a top speed of 28mph – with hilarious footage showing a rider taking it for a spin along a stretch of tarmac.
But the inventor joked that the converted appliance – dubbed ‘Henry Hoofer’ – still handles like a household cleaner around the corners.
Allan, a dad-of-three, said: “Almost all the parts are recycled junk, with the exception being the braking system and tyres.
“The top speed is currently unknown as no one has been brave enough to find out yet.
“In theory, it should be around 28mph – but unfortunately he still handles corners as poorly as he did as a hoover.”
Allan, from Milton Keynes, Bucks., said he had struck upon the bizarre idea with members of a local charity group, called Men in Sheds MK.
The members, many of whom are retired, fabricate individual and collective projects, using wood, metal and electronics at a workshop.
And Allan said they had been speculating about what to bring to a national gathering of inventors when they struck upon the idea of converting the hoovers.
He said: “I’m not sure who came up with motorised Henry Hoovers but it was an instant win of an idea. My brain immediately leapt to ‘put an engine in it’.
“One of our members managed to secure around six broken Henry hoovers and when they arrived I realised that not only would a 50cc pocket bike engine fit but it could be rideable.
“The work began in earnest by stripping down the Henry to just the outer shell and cutting away most of the bottom and internal support structure to take measurements.
“I knew it would be a tight fit but on paper, it all worked out, so I began creating a frame from steel angle to mount the engine, steering and drivetrain.”
Allan said the hardest part of the design process was trying to fit the axle to the back of the hoover, which could support a set wheels.
He said: “The biggest struggle with the build was the rear axle – it’s 10mm diameter as that was the only size I could find pillow blocks in that also fitted the frame
“I was very fortunate that the shed had recently received a large lathe and milling machine as a donation and a fellow member was a retired machine shop teacher.
“Between us, we managed to design and fabricate custom flanges and hubs to hold bolt the wheels, sprocket and brakes to with a high level of precision.”
Allan said the machine cost very little to produce as most of the parts had been collected from junk and other recycled materials.
But he said if each component was purchased new, the motorised cleaners would cost around £400 to make.
The prototype was finally completed early this year, and after Allan posted videos of the hoover on TikTok, it received half a million views.
He added: “Well, it’s funny, isn’t it? I expected people to say ‘Look at this nutter riding a Henry Hoover
“But before I knew it the video had hit a million views! Suddenly I find people talking about it.
“I’m ecstatic at the popularity Henry has gathered because it brings some joy into the world, and that’s what is really important.”
House covered in swarm of bugs
By Lottie Von Henning
This video shows a house covered top to bottom – in a swarm of bugs.
Footage shows Mormon crickets – also known as katydids – all over the property in Spring Creek, Nevada.
It’s thought that drought conditions encourage outbreaks of swarms.
Nevada is currently in its dry season, which lasts from May to September.
Clips show thousands of the bugs climbing the exterior of the home – although none managed to get in, reports say.
Craig Chamberlain posted the video on TikTok.
One commenter said: “Noooo I would leave!”
Another added: “Burn it down” – referring to the building itself.
This video was filmed on May 18, 2024.
"I went on a budget holiday to the Maldives - spending less than £500"
by Ben Barry and Samual Wightwick
A traveller has shared how she holidayed in the Maldives on a budget - spending less than £500 for a six-day trip.
Kara Wilbur, 23, and her friend, Natasha Whitley, 28, bagged a £950 return flight from London Heathrow on April 1 for their jaunt to Thususdhoo and Dhiffushi in the Maldives.
The island nation is known for its sandy beaches and turquoise water and stays at the famous water hut resorts can cost up to £1,300 per night.
But instead of staying in the resort islands, Kara decided to book a hotel in the local islands - Thususdhoo and Dhiffushi - and was able to nab a room overlooking the ocean for £25-a-night.
Kara said she spend around £50-a-day food, activities and travel - she caught a ferry for £1.70, spent £7 on meals out and enjoyed the beaches for free.
She said that a disadvantage of the island is that it doesn't allow drinking and most places are closed by 8:30pm but said it means you wake up feeling fresh every day you're there.
Kara, a travel content creator, from Denbighshire, Wales, said: "It was an insane adventure, as soon as we left we wanted to go back.
"When we arrived we were so surprised, it is one thing being told it is a cheap place to travel and then experiencing it yourself.
"When we realised that we could actually do this for £500 it was a nice experience.
"I will definitely be going back."
Kara and her friend, Natasha, set off on their travels on April 1 and spent six days in the Maldives before heading to Sri Lanka - where they both are now.
They split their time between the islands of Thulusdhoo and Dhiffushi staying in two beautiful beach front rooms at the Beach House by Sii Hotels and the Batutu Surf View Hotel.
Natasha, a pharmacist and content creator, from Bournemouth, Dorset, said: "Rooms on Thulusdhoo and Dhiffushi islands were around £30-a-night for a room per person.
"Ferries and transport were also cheap so it was much more affordable than it looked."
The pair also took full advantage of the island - going swimming with sharks for £88 each and taking a trip to a deserted island for £28 each, which both included jet ski rides.
They also paid a modest £12 each to take a trip to a floating bar, which is common in the local islands as they don't serve alcohol on land.
Kara said: "Thulusdhoo is really well know for its surfing and we made the most out of the beaches.
"It is illegal to drink on the islands themselves but legal to drink on the water so we took a boat out to have a drink and watch the sunset."
Food was also very affordable with a meal costing an average of £7-a-day per person with breakfast included with their rooms.
The most expensive part of their trip were the flights - from London to Male and then Male to Colombo - came up to £905.
Kara said: "The food there was unreal, on average we would spend £6-a-head on food which is really good.
"The advantage of the Maldives is that you can walk straight out of your hotel and you will be on the beach.
"The views were insane and the locals on the islands are lovely."
Breakdown of costs -
Flights - £950
Transport - £32 (four ferries and one speedboat)
Food - £95 (average £7 per meal)
Swimming with sharks - £88
Deserted island trip - £28
Floating bar - £12
Miscellaneous - £28 (ATM fees, souvenirs, airport storage)
Accommodation - £133
Total (without flights) = £416 per person over six days so around £70 per day
Kara post travel content to her TikTok page: @okay.kara.travels
Elephant rummages around tourists jeep – looking for snacks
By Amy Reast
A greedy elephant terrified a group of tourists on safari when it began rummaging around in their Jeep for a snack.
Ilona Johansson Jänkänpää, 22, was on a safari ride in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka, with boyfriend Jacob Tillberg, 24, and some friends.
The elephant ran at the vehicle and a video shows passengers lifting their legs as it rummages around while the driver warns them “it’s ok, don’t worry” and “don’t move”.
The elephant eventually left after finding nobody was carrying any snacks – but the tourists were left terrified, on March 13.
Ilona, from Gällivare, Sweden, said: “Near the end of the route, we saw this elephant.
“There were other Jeeps around but we got closer than the others.
“We were the only ones that got close, and now I know why!
“He started to run up to us, looking for food in the Jeep, and we panicked.
“It was just looking for food, but I was scared because it looked so aggressive.
“When the elephant realized we didn’t have any food, it went past us and we drove off.
“It only lasted a couple of minutes but it felt like a long time because we didn’t know how it would react.
“The trip was worth it in the end but it’s definitely an experience I’ll remember my whole life.
“It was terrifying in the moment but now we can look back and laugh!”
