An exotic bird known as a rhea which fled his farm in the summer has been literally “driven home for Christmas” - like the Chris Rea classic
Image by: Grantham Journal
An exotic rhea bird on the run for months has showed up at Christmas - 'driven home' just like the Chris Rea classic song.
Inca the rhea fled from Ridgeview Farm near Belmesthorpe, Lincs., in July after reportedly being spooked by the noise of farm machinery.
His owner Rufus Shoon has had several reports of him being spotted since then but finally managed to capture the bird on December 23 - two days before Christmas.
Inca was last seen near to home only a week before he was captured but managed to escape.
He was finally caught after being spotted near Uffington Riding Stables, near Stamford, Lincs.
Inca has been re-united with his brother Aztec since returning home.
Image by: Grantham Journal
Image by: Grantham Journal
Mr Shoon said: “I was hoping he would come home safely. You just pray for a miracle.
“He needs some food but at least we got him home for Christmas.
“I gave him some bread and managed to coax him through a gate so I could pick him up and load him into the truck.
“He usually grazes on insects and greenery so in the Summer months he would have had plenty to survive on and would have been happy to be out, but in the last few weeks there has been a lot of rain and not much growing so it looks like he was hungry.
“Hopefully he has had enough wandering now and won’t disappear again.”
Rheas are often mistaken for emus, but the species comes from South America rather than Australia.
They are not usually thought to be dangerous but can reach speeds of 30mph which is why Inca has proved to be difficult to catch when he had been seen.
Sightings of Inca were reported several times in the media during his break from the farm.
Kind-hearted 107-year-old donated his entire estate to a hospital to help fund an innovative scanner - which will be used to treat his great-great-niece's brain tumour
Video by: Ashley Moran 
Image by: Steve Chatterley
A kind-hearted 107-year-old donated his entire estate to a hospital to help fund an innovative scanner - which will be used to treat his great-great-niece's brain tumour.
Former army-veteran David 'Stanley' Brackenbrough left a legacy gift of £245,000 when he died in 2017 which has been used to fund a third of the £800,000 machine.
The device will enable doctors to give brave seven-year-old Isabelle Smith a more detailed diagnosis of a benign tumour she was diagnosed with at nine-months old.
The growth lies deep within her brain and has so far been unable to be removed; however, the scanner may open up the possibility of it eventually being extracted if necessary.
Isabelle's mother Loran Smith, 33, said her great-uncle Stanley loved the little girl so much during the final years of his life - and knew everything about her condition.
Stanley sadly lost his two children and wife so decided to help little Isabelle and thousands of other children by gifting the hospital the extraordinary amount.
Loran believes the donation was his way of 'saying thank you' for the way the hospital had looked after her all her life.
She said: “Stanley told my mum - his niece - he might leave something to the hospital but we had no idea it would be such a large amount.
"He saw they looked after her so well, so it became very important to him to help in any way that he could."
Stanley was a high ranking officer during the second world war in the Royal Army Services Corps regular Army.
He was promoted to Lance corporal, then sergeant, Captain and Officer Commanding.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
In his later years he lived a "humble life" as a pastry cook & confectioner and loved walking and painting.
Isabelle used to tell her great-great-uncle she wanted to be doctor - something Stanley agreed with after he saw her fighting her condition.
Loran added: "Every time she visited him, she would tell him she wanted to be a doctor and he always encouraged her.
"He looked after himself right up to the end and knew everything about Isabelle and what she was going through.
"He apparently told my mum he might leave some money to the hospital but none of us had the slightest idea of how much it would be, we never expected it.
"I am so proud of what he has done and how many people he will be able to help.
"He knew the comfort that the hospital gave us, we are so lucky to have them."
Stanley, who was born on September 8 1909, sadly passed away on February 27 2017 aged 107 in Sheffield General Hospital.
Isabelle, from Sheffield, South Yorks., was diagnosed with a tumour in December 2012.
Surgeons at the time decided removing the growth would be too risky and it remains within the core of the little girl's brain.
The current placement of the growth means it is inoperable and Isabelle attends scans every 12 months to monitor progress in case the tumour becomes aggressive.
Isabelle is due to have an annual brain scan on an older machine on May 13 this year, where results will be compared like-for-like with last year to assess any growth.
However, in the next few years Isabelle's family are hoping she will be able to use the machine to reduce the time spent being scanned and give her a more detailed assessment.
Loran said: "Sometimes Isabelle is in the scanner for a long time and comes out upset.
"The new machine is supposed to be a lot quicker so I think this would make a massive difference to her."
Self-employed Loran, who is also mother to nine-year-old brother Jack, said it was "amazing" to think her great-uncle's donation could help thousands of children in the future.
She said: "You always want to ensure your children receive the best care possible and to know he will help other families too is really very special."
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
The new equipment will allow radiologists to scan children with suspected cancerous tumours, epilepsy, painful injuries or neuro-disabilities with just one highly advanced diagnostic device.
Recalling Isabelle's diagnosis, Loran - who is married to Matt Smith, 37 - said her daughter's use of her right hand and leg was not natural.
She said: “I originally noticed the lack of usage of the limbs when playing in the bath.
"She wouldn’t grasp her hand to hold items, so I took her to our GP who referred us to a neurologist at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
“It was such a shock to find out it was a tumour, it was a really difficult time. No-one was sure what would happen next, they said it could take her in a few weeks.”
Further scans revealed the tumour was a low-grade glioma - a benign non-cancerous growth which are the slowest growing type.
Isabelle is not affected on a day-to-day basis and does no longer has any obvious symptoms caused by her benign tumour.
Loran continued: “It’s too dangerous for them to test the tumour and we’re not sure what, if anything, will trigger it to become aggressive.
"Luckily, she hasn’t had any kind of invasive surgery and hopefully it never comes to that but we’re just constantly watching for the signs.”
The care Isabelle received from the hospital inspired ‘Team Izzy’ - a group of family and friends who have ran marathons and held events, raising over £15,000 for the hospital.
Loran added: "The care we receive is incredible, the hospital and team can’t do enough for us. We are so lucky to have such an amazing hospital on our doorstep.”
The machine will also mean less discomfort for patients, with multiple scans conducted at the same time - with enhanced imagery which will provide more certainty when diagnosing patients so they can expect more tailored treatment.
The remaining cost of the scanner was raised throughout 2017 through a series of charity events and donors.
David Vernon-Edwards, director of The Children’s Hospital Charity added: “We would like to thank David’s family and all of the generous donors from the bottom of our hearts for enabling Sheffield Children’s Hospital to offer this amazing device, which will make a massive difference for so many severely ill children.”
NO PAIN NO GAIN - Woman completes London Marathon with BROKEN ankle - after wrapping leg in bandages 18 miles from finish
Video by: Siobhan O'Keeffe 
Image by: Siobhan O'Keeffe
A woman ran 18 miles of the London Marathon with a BROKEN ankle - wrapping her leg in bandages to cross the finish line.
Siobhan O’Keeffe, 25, broke her ankle eight miles and ran 18 miles - for more than four hours - with her fibula bone snapped in half.
Recruitment consultant, Siobhan, incredibly managed to complete the London Marathon despite snapping her ankle less than a third of the way through the race.
She fought back the tears and battled on through excruciating pain to finish the race in just over six hours.
But that was after the plucky runner had to stop after eight miles to get her ankle bandaged up by first aiders.
“It started hurting after about four miles but it just got worse and worse”, said Siobhan, from Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey.
“I had to stop after eight miles. It felt bruised and really heavy, I thought it was sprained. I didn’t think it’d be possible to run on a broken ankle.
“The pain was unbearable but all I wanted to do was finish. I had tears in my eyes. The adrenaline just kicked in.”
Siobhan was forced to stop after eight miles when she came across St John’s Ambulance medics.
She says the lower part of her leg was swollen and red, and was advised to stop running by first aiders.
But determined Siobhan, who was running in aid of the Children With Cancer charity, says dropping out of the race was never an option.
She has raised £6,000 for the charity with her work colleague, Sarah Hopkins, 32, and with her ankle now wrapped in bandages, picked herself up and started running again.
Siobhan, who initially wanted to complete the marathon in around five hours, said: “The St. John’s Ambulance people said ‘maybe you should stop now’.
“But I needed to get to the end. All of my family were there and I was running for charity. I didn’t want to let anyone down.
“The pain was really bad. I had to walk a bit but did carry on running. I ended up running with the a pacer.
“I was in a group of people and that really helped me along. I knew I wasn’t going to get the time I wanted so I just ended up wanting to finish at all.
“I was gutted. I think I’d be able to hit my target.”
Siobhan had spent four months training her body to run the marathon on Sunday (April 28).
Image by: Siobhan O'Keeffe
Image by: Siobhan O'Keeffe
Image by: Siobhan O'Keeffe
She had nailed her race preparation and was buzzing with excitement on the start line of one of the world’s most famous races.
But Siobhan’s once-in-a-life-time marathon experience has been overshadowed, she says.
“Running was just agony. I can’t explain how much it hurt.
“I joked with another runner that if felt as though I was running on a broken ankle.
“I feel like I have unfinished business with the marathon. I did say never again when I finished but I’ll never say never.”
Siobhan says the pain never went away and was only temporarily numbed by the roar of the crowds as she ran down The Mall towards the finish line.
But even after picking up her finisher’s medal - Siobhan says she didn’t go to A&E until the next morning.
Siobhan went home to celebrate with her family and even went to sleep with her ankle still broken - before waking up at 2am in “agony”.
She went along to A&E at West Middlesex Hospital in the early hours of Monday morning (April 29).
She was taken for an X-ray which revealed her fibula bone has snapped near her ankle joint - leaving doctors baffled at how she managed to complete the race.
Siobhan said: “The orthopedic surgeon said he had no idea how I ran with it. He said it was a trauma break. He couldn’t believe it.
“Everyone at hospital said I’m amazing for what I did. No one can believe it.”
Siobhan’s ankle is now encased in a cast and will find out on Friday if she needs an operation.
If not, she will need to wear the cast for up to six weeks but her recovery may go on for longer if surgery is required.
Age gap couple proud of their successful marriage- despite having over three decades between them
Video by: Ashley Moran 
Image by: James Linsell Clark SWNS
A devoted husband and wife who wed when he was just 17 and she was 51 are due to celebrate 18 years of marriage - despite family and friends saying it would not last.
Teenager Jay Barham and divorced, mum-of-two Linda fell head over heels in love in 2000 despite their staggering 31 year age gap.
The loved-up couple wed the following year after a whirlwind romance which shocked many of their close friends and relatives.
Now Jay, 36, and Linda, 69, are due to celebrate 18 years of marriage in July with both insisting they are 'more in love than ever.'
Jay said; "Linda has been called a child snatcher, I've been called a granny basher.
"We've been called names in the street, and sometimes people think she is my mum.
"But we don't care what people say.
"Our marriage has lasted a lot longer than many others and we are still very much in love."
Jay was a trainee youth worker when he first met council youth worker Linda.
The couple say they were instantly attracted and bonded during driving lessons she gave him and through their love of music.
Jay added: "For eight weeks she was helping me learn how to drive.
"And then one time a track just started playing and we just kissed.
"For the life of me I can't remember which one but it had to be Elton John because he's our favourite.
"It was completely unspoken up until that point, but as it happened it was like the sun just came out and it was a shock to both of us."
It took Jay, who had had three previous serious girlfriends before Linda, three days to get over the shock of the kiss before asking her out on a date.
At the time Linda, from Hardcourt, Essex, was concerned for the feelings she felt for a boy the same age as her son Simon.
She said: "I just thought: 'this is wrong', I felt awful.
"But I was divorced for five years, my children were all grown up and knew that it just felt right"
Linda's children Alan (13) and Simon (17) were "shell shocked" at the idea of the relationship but decided that "as long as mum happy, nothing else matters."
For Jay's parents, who were over a decade younger than his new girlfriend, they thought it was just a flash in the pan.
Jay said: "They were okay about it, they just thought: 'Oh well it will last if it lasts.'
"We were more worried about how my nan would react, but she was fantastic about it."
In spite of doubtful friends that were certain the relationship would never workout, Jay and Linda got married eight months after meeting in July 2001.
Jay said: "We got married at Colchester Registry office on Friday the 13th, and everyone told us that we shouldn't as it was an unlucky day.
"And then my suit didn't fit, our car broke down, the ring didn't fit and it got to the point that I'd just wear trackies and a top"
Linda said: "We were happy to get a bus to the wedding, but our family stepped in and sorted us out"
Jay and Linda have worked together for most of their married lives at an Asda bakery and are now opening a small cafe together near their home in Hardcourt, Essex.
Image by: Adam Harnett
Image by: James Linsell Clark SWNS
Image by: Adam Harnett
Jay's mother Valerie, who died in 2014, was 12 years younger than Linda but the two were still extremely close.
He said: "Linda and my mum gelled really well, there were absolutely no problems.
"My dad has a really good relationship with Linda, he actually describes her as 'the daughter he never had'.
"We all go on holiday together and we're incredibly close."
In fact, bemused onlookers always mistake that Jay's dad Stephen and Linda as his parents.
"Of course people always think I'm their child and they're my parents, but we just laugh at it.
"It's understandable, all sorts of people ask all sorts of questions.
"But I've never thought about age, I just think about the woman I love."
Jay and Linda are un-bothered by people's comments about their extreme age gap.
Jay said "People have said horrible things to us in the street.
The couple have even had their car windows smashed in what they assume to be an attack on their marriage.
Jay said: "We just got on with it, even now people frown on it.
"I always reply to people like that asking how many divorces they've had.
"Most marriages have all split up, regardless of their age."
Linda thinks there is some hypocrisy in judging older woman more so than older men that have young partners.
"If it's a man then you're doing well for yourself, but then if you are a woman then you're disgusting and frowned upon.
"We just love each other, we haven't done this for fame or for money, we just love and think about each other."
When the couple first got married, Linda was still able to have children but Jay was never keen in being a parent.
"I never wanted to be a father, I'm one of those people that just keep the toys to myself.
"I'm just not the parent type, I much prefer having grandchildren as you get to give them back."
Linda has seven grandchildren between the ages of four weeks and 18 years-old.
Jay says that he never thinks about the likelihood Linda will die before him: "I treat everyday as my last so there's no point in worrying about numbers.
"Personally the biggest positive about being married to an older woman is the civility, being able to speak about feelings and not pushing them under.
"We have adapted our lives [for Linda's age] for example instead of walking ten miles we'll go for a ride in the car."
Although they have adapted their lives in some aspects, they certainly haven't changed anything in the bedroom."
Jay wasn't a virgin when he starting Linda and he described himself as "well experienced."
"You don't just stop having sex when you reach 65.
"She still haves that drive, I don't know why people think you die sexually at 50."
The secret to a happy marriage, according to Jay, is simply about loving one another.
"I think it's spending so much time together, we love each other and we do everything together.
"The only think we argue about is the cat, and even then we never go to bed without sorting everything out."
Meet the adventurous moggie which loves going HILLWALKING with her owner - who says cats should have the same freedom as dogs
Video by: Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS 
Image by: Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS
Meet the adventurous moggie which loves going HILLWALKING with her owner - who says cats should have the same freedom as dogs.
Charlie the cat has just started to be let off the leash by owner Fiona Milne, 50, when they go for hikes together with a pal.
Fiona introduced Charlie to hillwalking slowly, first of all using a lead, but now lets her run free, picking her up if they see dogs.
These pictures show Charlie, a two-year-old moggie, happily trotting after her owner, on Greenock Cut, Inverclyde.
Fiona said: “We have not quite got her to the munros, but she goes out with us when we go for walks.
“She just follows along behind us.
“She just loves it.
“I started taking her out on a little harness, and we only take her to safe areas.
“When we go for a walk, we take Charlie.
“We sort of got her used to being out on a lead.
“It is just amazing, especially the reaction from people.
Image by: Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS
Image by: Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS
Image by: Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS
“We tend to take her to places which are quite open, so we can see if there’s a dog coming and pick her up.
“People stop us and say ‘we’ve never seen anything like it’.
“Being off the lead, she sticks by us.
“We want to show people what a cat can do.
“Everything Charlie does is what a dog would do."
Charlie spent most of her life as an indoor cat in Fiona’s home in Glasgow.
But when she was let out, she was bitten by either another cat or a dog, so now the only times she goes outdoors are on trips to the countryside.
Employment adviser Fiona said: “People ask a lot of questions, like ‘are you nervous about her going up a tree?’.
“The only time I think she might run up a tree is if a dog was around.
“I think it’s more exciting for her going for walks.
“She’s got a wee adventurous spirit.
“Hopefully it will inspire a few more people to broaden their cat’s horizons.”
Image by: Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS
Motorist plunged into four foot deep pothole - then climbed inside it
Image by: Sophie Gill
A motorist thought "hell had opened up" when his vehicle hit a four foot deep pothole - that was big enough for him to climb inside.
Stunned Grant Parker, 46, was driving down a residential road when part of the concrete suddenly collapsed under the weight of his wheel.
The front portion of his Volvo C30 disappeared into the void and Grant couldn't believe his eyes when he got out and saw a four foot deep hole had appeared.
Pictures taken by a resident on Granville Terrace in York show the motorist inside the hole with his head and shoulders popping out of the top.
A City of York Council spokesman said the hole was the result of a sewer collapse, which occurs when escaped water washes away the structure of a road until it gives way.
Workers from Yorkshire Water, which is responsible for York's sewage system, have filled the hole in since it appeared on March 25.
Grant, who works as a landlord, said: "I was driving down the street and all of a sudden the car just sank down and went into a hole.
"It did some damage to the car, and I'm still waiting for the insurance to deal with it.
"There was just a little mark in the road, and as I went over it, the whole car dropped at one side.
"I got out and thought it was unbelievable.
"You could see a tunnel under the road. I thought hell had opened up or something."
Image by: Sophie Gill
Image by: Sophie Gill
Image by: Dan Rowlands SWNS
He added: "I actually got in the hole, it went right down and you could see right under the road.
"The hole has been filled in but only recently.
"It was cordoned off for a while because they couldn't move any cars because the road was unsafe."
Fortunately Grant was able to reverse out and take the car to a garage for repairs.
He said he's already spent £200 having work done to his vehicle and is yet to hear whether insurance will cover the costs.
A spokeswoman for City of York Council said the authority's highways identified the hole as a sewer collapse.
She said: "This is caused by water escaping from somewhere and washing out the structure of the road, over time, until a void is created.
"The road surface will hold up for so long and then the void becomes too large and the tarmac fails."
She confirmed the road had been repaired, adding that "liability will not be with City of York Council".
The spokeswoman said an insurance claim had been received but that it would be redirected to officials at Yorkshire Water.
A Yorkshire Water spokesman said: "We carried out sewer repair work on Granville Terrace on April 5 and completed it on April 12.
“We are sorry to hear Mr Parker damaged his vehicle whilst the road surface was damaged and we repaired the road as quickly as possible once we were notified of the issue on April 3.
"In circumstances like this it is the insurance companies who resolve any claims."
Britain's smallest PUB run by a 98-year-old from her front room and only serves one beer
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
These pictures show Britain's smallest pub - run by a 98-year-old from her front room who only serves one type of beer.
Mary Wright runs The Luppitt Inn and sits at a makeshift bar dishing out glasses of booze.
The pensioner only opens up three nights a week, from Thursday to Saturday, from 7.30pm.
There is no music or entertainment, and the toilets are located across the yard, but that hasn't stopped the pub in Honiton, Devon, making it a firm favourite with ale lovers.
Mary's pub has been featured in the real ale drinker's bible published by the Campaign for Real Ale, and the National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.
The inn, previously known as the Red Lion Inn, was opened by Charles Wright, the grandfather of Mary's late husband Albert.
Albert ran it with Mary, who he had one child with, until his death in 1989 at the age of 73.
Since then Mary has run it alone, and despite being in exceptional health for age, her granddaughter Caroline and her husband Philip now help keep it open.
Mary said: “I was born on a farm on the other side of the village but I can’t remember if I came to the pub much before I married when I was about 22, and I’ve lived here since.
"I've enjoyed being a landlady, but I can't tell you many stories because my memory isn't so good these days.
"Caroline and Philip now open the pub for me. They don’t expect me to because I am in my nineties!
“I’ve always joined in with things and customers still come and see me where I’m sat so we still have our chats. Pubs can bring communities together."
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
Inside the pub there is a fireplace, dartboard and a mix-match of small tables and chairs.
There are few seats to choose from, and an even limited choice of drinks. Its one and only beer is locally brewed Otter Bitter.
Cider lovers are also catered as Mary has a collection of unchilled Thatcher cans behind the bar, and also on offer is a limited selection of spirits, mixers and wine.
It’s cash only and there is no till.
Surrounding the bar is simple wooden shelves and the walls have a few decorations, including pictures of a beauty queen, and even a signed photo of Tina Turner.
Mary continued: “I don’t mind anybody coming in here.
“Years ago it was busy a lot of the time, especially weekends, but it’s not now. It has definitely gone quieter.
"Nowadays you probably get around half a dozen people during the evening."
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
14-year-old has become the youngest Brit to fly solo in a powered aircraft - three years before he's even allowed to DRIVE
Video by: Ellis Wylam 
Image by: Jon Mills
A 14-year-old schoolboy has become the youngest Brit to fly solo in a powered aircraft - three years before he's even allowed to DRIVE.
Junior aviator Maksim Ferguson bypassed British laws - which will not allow him to get his wings until he is 16 - by travelling to Canada for the privilege.
Canada is the only country in the world where a 14-year-old is allowed to fly on their own.
Teenager Maks received a certificate after he took to the skies at Burlington, Ontario, Canada, on Monday April 15 at age 14 years, one month and 28 days old.
He was joined by dad, Vincent Ferguson OBE, 54, who runs his own ecological incineration business, on a two-week mission to get him in the air.
Despite being challenged by typical Canadian weather, which saw high winds and even snow, Maks, from Mawdesley, Lancs., managed to cram in as many lessons as possible to achieve his dream.
For his first ever flight Maks took off alone in gusty conditions in a Piper PA-28 single engine, four-seater aeroplane, ascending to 1,000 ft.
In 15 minutes he navigated the chosen flight path and communicated with Canadian air traffic control, before successfully touching back down at the airstrip.
Maks said: “I wasn't expecting to go solo when I did.
“They had cancelled nearly all the flights as the weather was so bad and I thought that any opportunity to fly had gone out the window.
"Then we got a call from the Chief Flying Instructor saying let's head out, who then said I was ready and I could go solo.
“It all happened so fast and I was so nervous sitting there on the runway in the plane by myself.
"It also didn't help that my dad and all my instructors were stood right beside it filming me and taking pictures."
Over the next couple of days, with improved weather, Maks went up again, totting up over two hours' solo flying time.
Maks' UK flying instructor told him that, as he had been taking almost weekly lessons since he was eight-years-old, he was experienced enough to fly solo by the time he was 12.
Maks and his dad had originally planned for him to fly to Australia to when he was 16 so he could fly solo 12 hours before he would have been able to in the UK.
But when they found out about Canadian law they set new plans in motion.
Before Maks could fly he had to pass a Class 3 Canadian Medical Certificate, which he did in the UK.
He had to reach the minimum ten hours' flying time in Canadian skies, which includes performing stalls, spins and spiral dives - not allowed for safety reasons in the UK.
He also had to pass an aviation exam, the PSTAR Examination, and the ROC(A) and English Proficiency Test to correctly communicate with Canadian air traffic control.
The high-flying teen hopes one day he will be an RAF pilot or commercial airline pilot.
“The funny thing is, my dad was once terrified of flying, but he overcame his fear and got his pilot licence when I was really young," said Maks.
"I'd grown up around planes because of my dad and absolutely loved flying from my very first lesson."
Maks' father went with Maks on his own. Mum, Victoria, who is 38 and works for the family business, and little sister, Charlotte, 11, were too scared to go along.
Image by: Jon Mills
Image by: Jon Mills
Vincent said: “I still remember the day I took the stabilisers off Maks' bike when he was a little boy and I felt that same anxiety as when he went cycling away from me all those years ago, albeit on a far greater magnitude.
"I was petrified, it was two weeks of hell for me, but Maks took the whole thing in his stride and flew like an absolute professional. I am so proud of him."
Maks has loved flying since he was five-years-old but took his first official flying lesson at ANT (Air Navigation & Trading) in Blackpool, Lancs., when he was eight.
Maks' flying instructor, Russell Whyham from ANT, said: “Maks is by far the youngest pilot we've ever trained in our 70+ year history.
"He's been obsessed with aeroplanes since his first lesson and he'll hopefully one day join the elite list of ANT student flyers who go on to become commercial airline pilots or similar.
“His level of training, skill and dedication has meant that he's been ready to fly solo for a number of years now and the only thing that's held him back is his age.”
Sadly Maks will not gain a place in the record books, as the World Guinness Book of Records does not recognise achievements with an age limit.
In January 2019 this year, Ellie Carter was named the UK's youngest pilot when she flew a powered aircraft on her 16th birthday.
Image by: Jon Mills
Spurs fans MISS Tottenham’s incredible Champions League comeback after getting too drunk and leaving the stadium at half time - thinking it was full time
Image by: Steve Chatterley
A family of Spurs fans MISSED Tottenham’s incredible Champions League comeback after they got too drunk and left the stadium at half time - thinking it was FULL TIME.
Lifelong Spurs fans James, Michael and Will Perkins stormed out of Ajax’s Johan Cruijff Arena when the score was 2-0 and “all hope seemed lost”.
The father and son trio thought their beloved Spurs were seconds away from Champions League semi-final heartbreak so headed for the exit - just before the 45th minute.
However, there was still a full half of football left to play in Amsterdam on Wednesday night - which turned out to be 45 minute spell that will go down in club history.
Tottenham went on to win the match 3-2, after Lucas Moura scored the second half hattrick with less than 60 seconds left to play.
But Spurs season ticket holders, James, Michael and Will, from south London, missed the whole thing - after sinking 12 pints each before the match and mistaking half time for full time.
Social media producer James, 23, said: “We just thought there was no way we were going to score three goals in less than five minutes.
“We were pretty poor and were having no chances at all. We all left just before half time - thinking it was full time.
“We didn’t look like we were ever going to score. All three of us were pretty drunk and just didn’t think we were going to score.
“No one was talking and everyone thought the game was over at that point. We thought we were leaving at the perfect time and wanted to beat the rush out of the ground.”
Boozed up and miserable, the three heartbroken fans began to make their way back to their hotel in central Amsterdam.
But as they stood on metro train station platform, James received a phone call from a friend .. just as the second half was getting underway.
It was then that the penny dropped and James realised he had walked out of the stadium at half time rather than full time.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Whilst he was on the phone to his friend, Spurs scored the first of their three goals, which sparked the start of a memorable comeback.
James, Michael and Will rushed back to their hotel and managed to catch the last half an hour of the match in the hotel bar.
He took off his shirt and ran around the bar and celebrated as if he was still stood in the stands when the final goal went in and Spurs sealed a sensational victory.
James added: “We were stood waiting for the train and my friend called me. He couldn’t believe we had left. He said the game was still going on.
“He told me when Spurs scored the first goal. I was so confused. But then I realised no one was stood around us waiting for a train.
“We were able to watch in the bar and to be honest, I’m fine with it now. I was still excited to be watching because of what was happening.
“I was just happy we were coming back. It’s still amazing to see us reach the final.
“It was an unbelievable feeling when we had won. I took my shirt off and started running around.
“Obviously, it would have been better to be there but it was still an incredible experience for sure. We celebrated as if we were still at the ground.”
James paid 64 euros for his ticket and has travelled around Europe all season watching Spurs in the Champions League.
James, his dad and his brother arrived in Amsterdam for the Champions League semi-final second leg at 1pm on Wednesday, and spent the seven hours before kick off drinking.
They arrived at the ground in time for the 8pm kick off, but due to a drunken mix-up, missed the start of the match.
Blurry-eyed James even tried to get into the Amsterdam Arena using a ticket for an old Tottenham match.
He arrived at his seat ten minutes into the match - when Spurs were already losing - and meant he thought he had missed a full half of football.
James said: “We thought we had left at the perfect time to beat the rush at full time.
“I left and my dad and brother followed me.
“I’m still happy but that’s the last time I ever leave a football match early.”
James is hoping to attend the Champions League Final in Madrid with his dad and brother on June 1.
Spurs will take on Liverpool at the Estadio Metropolitano, where one team will be crowned the champions of Europe.
A small plant put in an office ten years ago has turned into a 300FT monster - filling the entire building and hanging over every desk
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS Video by: Tom Wren SWNS
A small plant put in an office ten years ago has turned into this 300FT monster - filling the entire building and hanging over every desk.
Boss Des Brennan, 54, bought the ivy as a small potted cutting a decade ago to brighten up his work space.
He says he placed it in the corner of the office of his company and it quickly grew to around 3ft.
But it then "absolutely flourished" - apparently boosted by the florescent lights and warm air.
It now trails up the walls and along the ceiling - dangling an incredible 300ft around the office building - adorning most desks.
The epic plant now fills the office of Protective Solutions Ltd. in Stonehouse, Glos. - the packaging company Des founded in 2006.
And Des said that the plant is still growing at a rate of around six inches every month.
He said: "It's done really well. We put it in the corner of the office in the pot that it came in, and it just flourished.
"I think it likes the fluorescent lights in here, and the heat. In the summer, when the leaves all come out, it's more like a canopy in here."
And Des added that the plant is very low-maintenance, requiring almost no looking after at all.
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
Image by: Jon Mills
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
He said: "It takes almost nothing. In the winter months, when all the leaves die off, we don't have to do anything with it.
"We only water it once every couple of days, about half a pint of water. It does cost a fortune in elastic bands though, to pin it onto the roof.
"It's a very defiant plant. If you happen to catch a bit of branch in a door, and break it off the plant, it seems to grow a few more shoots in its place."
He added: "It's a big talking point. A lot of people know our office as the one with the big plant.
"There's a team of eight of us here. Some of the girls talk to the plant, but I don't believe in all that stuff.
"We do get quite a few spiders hiding in the plant, but I don't blame the plant for that.
We have a lot of fun at Christmas - we hang lights and baubles from it.
"When it grows too big to fit in the office, we'll have to punch a hole in the roof and let it grow up on the mezzanine.
"We've got an open-plan office, it's about 50 foot long by about 25 foot wide.
"It goes round our office a couple of times, and then criss-crosses across the ceiling too. It's absolutely massive."
Des added: ''I think between the server heat, and the computers, and the nature of the people working here, and their good will, it's absolutely thrived.
''It's well over 300ft long - I think it calms people down. i think it's nice to have something green, something living in the office, and I think it's very therapeutic.''
One worker, a sales executive called Charlotte, said: ''I don't really like spiders and we have a few spiders that hide in the plant.
''We do have a good laugh about it. We keep threatening to cut it and prune it for Des, but he won't let us.
''I think he measures it before he goes away to make sure we haven't done anything to it.''
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
