BBC presenter's dress patched up with gaffer tape and clips after bursting open minutes before going live
Image by: Jon Mills
A BBC TV newsreader whose dress burst open minutes before going on air was saved by her colleagues - who patched it up with gaffer tape and bulldog clips.
Points West anchor Liz Beacon, 43, was drafted in at the last minute to present the evening news and rushed home to grab her new and unworn Zara outfit.
But minutes before going live the zip 'popped', leaving the black fitted dress gaping all down her back.
Without time to change, the quick-thinking crew pulled it together using big metal bulldog clips and black gaffer tape - and took a photo to show Liz.
Viewers had no idea of the outfit malfunction when they tuned in to watch the live broadcast just 20 minutes later.
Liz, from Bristol said: "I hadn't worn the dress before and it was a bit sticky when I did the zip up, but I just thought that was because the dress is quite a tight style anyway.
"Never in a million years did I imagine it would burst open half an hour later!
The dress, bought at Cabot Circus shopping centre in Bristol, was a birthday gift from her mother in December.
Liz was looking forward to debuting it on the programme because it was different to her usual presenting outfits.
Image by: Jon Mills
Image by: Jon Mills
Image by: Jon Mills
She managed to stay composed for the entire 30 minute programme with her dress haphazardly taped and clipped closed behind her.
Liz said: "We go live on air at 6.30pm and at about 6.10pm I felt this pop and thought, I don’t believe this, I think the zip has just gone.
"I asked the director - another Liz - to come and take a look, and when she saw it, she gasped and said 'Quick, get me some clips and some gaffer tape'.
"I had no other options. There is a dressing room here but I don’t store any dresses in there - that will change from now on!
"There were three people helping me in the end, with fellow presenter David Garmston next to me trying to keep me calm.
"It was all hands to the pump - a director, a fellow presenter and a cameraman, all trying to help me in the 20 minutes we had before going live.
"I was still fiddling with it, reaching behind me, trying to make sure the tape was stuck down, as we went on air.
"I couldn’t relax the entire programme, which is most unlike me! I kept feeling it move, and was completely paranoid that it would ping open again."
She has since spoken to Zara regarding the incident and is liaising with their customer services with the hope of organising a replacement.
This is the moment a turf war between Cornish pasty and burger vans turned violent - with one trying to run over his rival
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
This is the moment a turf war between Cornish pasty and burger vans turned violent - with one trying to run over his rival.
Benjamin Harbour, 38, is filmed deliberately driving his car into Scot Weller (corr) on an industrial estate after the pair began to argue over territory.
Scot had run his business, Over the Top Cornish Pasties, peacefully for years until the arrival of the Scran Van, a company run by Harbour that sells burgers and jacket spuds.
After several incidents where Scot and his staff were threatened to stay away from the site in Launceston, Cornwall, he was advised by police to record any interactions.
And the dispute took a violent twist when on one occasion, while Scot was filming the argument, Harbour got into his car and drove straight into him.
The thug told his victim: 'you didn't like that, did you'.
Harbour, from Tavistock, Devon, was sentenced at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court last week after previously admitting driving without due care and attention and common assault.
Speaking after the case, Scot said: “I run Over the Top Cornish Pasties in Callington. We’re a small family business and looked to expand by delivering to homes and businesses.
“He also had a food van and would drive into the industrial estate, sound his horn and people would come out.
“He sold completely different types of food to us so we never considered ourselves rivals but then me and my staff started receiving messages saying we should leave Launceston.
“We didn’t think much of it but the messages kept coming and there was also negative feedback left online. I just carried on as I didn’t want to be intimidated.”
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Scot continued visiting the site but kept his phone handy to record any altercations so the footage could be used as evidence.
Then, in June last year, Scot saw Harbour pull into a car park in Launceston behind him so quickly pulled out his phone.
Scot said: “I was delivering to a garage and saw him pull up behind me.
"Police had told me to film anything that happened and when he saw the camera he became aggressive.
“He got into his van and drove at me. Luckily I only scraped my elbow and knee but it could have been a lot worse.”
Scot said that after the incident he and his colleagues stopped delivering to Launceston as they didn’t believe it was safe to do so.
He said: “He’s a bully and I want people to know to keep away. We stopped delivering to Launceston but I wasn’t going to stop the court case.
“In the end he pleaded guilty and luckily our business is doing well. It’s crazy with non-stop orders and we can’t keep up.
"We’ve got nine members of staff in our third year and we might start delivering to Launceston again now if the demand is there.”
As punishment Harbour, who operated under the name The Scran Van, was made subject of a community order consisting of a four-month 5pm to 7am curfew.
He was also told by magistrates to pay costs and a victim surcharge.
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Scot said that the incident which landed Harbour in court came after an eight month campaign of abuse which included threats of arson and violence.
He added: "It went on for six to eight months. He would ring about five times a day giving us abuse. He would say that he would get gypsies to burn down our van.
"When he would see us driving he would swerve his vehicle at us. He had about 26 Facebook profiles and he would message us abuse from all of them.
"He was constantly giving us abuse, but we didn't want to give in to a bully, we just ignored him.
"We called the police and they said to record everything, and it got to that day in the video.
"I was on my last delivery and he pulled into the car park behind me. He opened the back door of my van so I confronted him and that's when all this happened.
"It seems like he wants Launceston all to himself, we've never had any trouble from anyone else there.
"He came up to the van and shouted through the window, but he's not really a scary guy.
"At the time it was a bit shocking, when he hit me with the car. I just grabbed hold of the bonnet. He was only doing about 5mph but you don't expect someone to actually ram you with their car.
"My hands were a bit shaky afterwards, I think it was all the adrenaline.
"He now runs a vehicle recovery business, but he is just a nuisance.
"He got a heavy sentence for what he did to me but I don't think it has really taught him much."
Video by: Ashley Moran
Dad who recorded his baby son every day for a year creates hilarious montage video of him 'singing' AC/DC's rock classic Thunderstruck
Image by: Matt MacMillan
A dad who recorded his baby son every day for a year has edited the clips together to create a video which appears to show him singing AC/DC's rock classic 'Thunderstruck'.
Matt MacMillan compiled clips of little Ryan making noises before splicing them together in time with the music.
Angus Young's iconic guitar riff from 1990 is instantly recognisable as the video begins - with the one-year-old also providing several other parts as song progresses.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Matt MacMillan
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Matt, from New Jersey, USA, manually sorted 83 clips according to pitch then organised each according to note to create the track.
He found 21 notes in total - enough to carry the tune.
Angus then listened to the AC/DC track over and over again, figuring out the notes by ear.
He also used his son's sneeze as a cymbal, a clip of Ryan hitting a sofa with his hand for the drum and the child slapping the floor for the snare.
Video by: Matt MacMillan
Inspirational teen living with Down's syndrome is busting myths about her condition - through DANCING
Image by: Ellis Wylam
An inspirational teenage girl living with Down's syndrome is busting myths about her condition - through DANCING.
Francesca Goff, 18, was born with the condition which affects around 775 babies each year in the UK and wants others to know the condition is nothing to fear.
Her parents, Annemarie and Frank Goff, initially worried about Francesca and the quality of life she would lead - until their daughter discovered dancing.
But fearless Francesca struts her stuff at every opportunity - and now dances at shows throughout the UK.
Francesca, who this year attended the UN in Geneva to speak about her experiences, is part of three dance groups in Cornwall.
She dances with PicNMix, a group by the Cornwall Down’s Syndrome Support Group, and she is part of the Collective Dance Group and TR14ers - a hip hop community dance charity.
Francesca said: "I like to make my family proud and myself proud and I want to work hard as best as I can.
“I like being with my friends having fun and learning to communicate well and learn new dances.”
In her earlier years, Francesca experienced the typical symptoms of a child with Down’s syndrome - with both her walking and speech delayed.
But now her life has completely transformed, and the family travel from their home in Camborne, Cornwall, so Francesca can dance at Public Health conferences.
Image by: Ellis Wylam
Image by: Ellis Wylam
Image by: Ellis Wylam
Annemarie said: “She has always enjoyed dancing.
“Her real love of dancing started in primary school and since then she has performed for local festivals all around Cornwall to raise the profile of Down’s syndrome and show people what they are actually capable of.”
The Goffs have always wanted to spread awareness around Francesca’s life with Down’s Syndrome - but said there is a lot more to be done.
Francesca's father Frank said: “People always ask the question ‘is life tough having a child with Down’s syndrome?’ and my answer is always the same and that is that it is like having any other child.
“But the more people get out there about Down’s syndrome the less afraid of it people are.”
Whilst Francesca knew that she was being treated differently growing up it is not something she says she ever really worried about.
But her sister Cecily, who is two years older, went to the same school as Francesca and said she would notice her sister being treated differently and it would annoy her.
Cecily said: “Sometimes people don’t include her, not because they are nasty people but because they don’t understand and they don’t know how to approach it.
“Down’s syndrome has always been a part of my life so I never thought it was a thing.
“But when I went to secondary schools you get the segregation of kids with special needs but they are fine when they speak to you in the playground.
“It is important that that is exposed and shown as normal and it’s something that needs to be focused on more.”
Helen Laverty, who is the professional lead for Learning Disability Nursing at the University of Nottingham and met Francesca in Geneva, said: “She is never afraid to speak up or out.
“She is the most effective role model for young children and parents with Down’s Syndrome who are just entering the scary world of main stream education.
"Francesca inspires people to dream big.”
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Impressive moment waiter carrying four meals manages to not drop a single plate after falling over
Image by: Jamie Shoebridge
This is the impressive moment a waiter fell to the floor carrying four meals - but didn't drop a single plate.
Jamie Shoebridge, 24, has been waiting tables for three years but may consider a career at a circus after this incredible juggling act.
CCTV cameras captured him crashing to the floor after slipping on peppercorn sauce - taking down a big decorative plant in the restaurant with him.
But bizarrely he somehow managed to keep hold of the plate he was holding in his left hand - and continue to balance three other meals on a tray he was also carrying on his right.
Restaurant supervisor Jamie, from Nottingham, said he jumped back up and delivered the meals as planned with his guests none-the-wiser.
The only casualty of the three roast beef dinners and bangers and mash dish was one sausage and a few peas.
Image by: Jamie Shoebridge
He said: “One minute I was walking along with the plates and the next minute I was on the floor.
“I lost my footing and fell down face first.
“There was some peppercorn sauce on the floor and I slipped on it. It’s all a blur and I’m not sure how it happened.
“It was just an instinct to lift my arms up and try to save the plates. I just got back up and carried on as normal.
“I have no idea how none of the plates got smashed. I’m impressed with myself.
“The only thing that fell off the plate was one sausage and a few peas.”
Jamie’s little accident happened on Sunday afternoon (9) during the lunchtime rush.
He said after falling over and realising three of the meals were still intact, he carried on
Jamie added: “It didn’t hurt but I was very confused as to how it happened.
“We all had a laugh about it in the office.
“It has become a bit of a running joke at work now.”
Video by: Gabriella Petty
This is the hilarious video of a woman who refused to be defeated by windblown gates - as she battled to keep them closed
Image by: Pam Parker
This is the hilarious video of a woman who refused to be defeated by windblown gates - as she battled to keep them closed.
Pam Parker, 38, was trying to close the gates at Auld Mills Farm, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway but strong winds brought by Storm Brendan kept blowing them back open.
CCTV footage caught Pam as she struggled with these uncooperative gates, closing one side only for the other side to fly open.
But determined Pam refused to give up, battling the wind for nearly two minutes before getting them to shut on January 11.
The owner of the farm Tommy Lockhart, who shared the footage, can be heard saying: “What a legend” when Pam eventually managed to close the gates.
Pam and husband Andrew, 40, are both horse racing photographers but rent land at the farm for some of their 100 head pedigree Dutch Spotted sheep flock.
Image by: Pam Parker
Image by: Pam Parker
Pam, who lives near Dumfries, said: “The video was taken during Storm Brendan two weeks ago.
“We rent some land on the farm where we keep our sheep.
“I was there visiting the sheep. When I arrived I opened the gates and pinned them back but when I tried to shut them the wind just kept blowing them.
“I faffed around for a couple of minutes and then I realised the camera was pointing right at me.
“I was thinking this is ridiculous, I tried a few times to get them shut but once I had closed one side I wasn’t fast enough closing the other side.
“When my husband put the video on Facebook he thought I would kill him, but I saw the funny side, it is hilarious.
“I thought I might as well laugh at myself.”
Video by: Pam Parker
This is the incredible moment water flowed UPWARDS - after waves were caught in a rare sea vortex.
Image by: Samy Jacobsen
This is the incredible moment water flowed UPWARDS - after waves were caught in a rare sea vortex.
Samy Jacobsen, 41, was out walking along the cliffs off Suðuroy in the Faroe Islands when he spotted a whirlwind of water rising from the waves.
He watched as the vortex of spray climbed up the side of the 470m sea cliff - known as Beinisvørð - and billowing on to the cliff top, on Monday.
Weather experts said it was a water spout - a spiralling pillar of air - which forms like a tornado over the water when a cliff edge spins the wind in a circle.
Samy said: "I felt like going for a walk in an area that seldom explore and I also wanted to try out my sister’s Iphone 11 pro max which I knew could take great pictures and videos.
"From home I could see that the scene was definitely set for great pictures since the sky and the sea were almost colliding in the storm.
"I took pictures and shot a few videos and when I shot that one it triggered the wow affect for sure.
"I saw something being blown up into the air from that area before but I have never investigated it though.
"In the vicinity there are many small rivers that defy gravity in stormy conditions and an awful lot of sea water is blown up and travels pretty far up land.
"So it is not always easy to tell what it is.
"I sent it to some friends and they all thought that it was very beautiful and special."
Image by: Samy Jacobsen
Greg Dewhurst senior operational meteorologist at the Met Office described the phenomenon as "spectacular".
He said: "To us here in the operations centre it looks like a water spout (a spiralling pillar of air), which is a little like a tornado but it forms over the water.
"The cliff edge is helping to spin the wind around and we think this is why it forms quite quickly.
"The weather over the area is unsettled with heavy showers and these ingredients together help form the water spouts.
"Water spouts are not too uncommon during unsettled weather but make spectacular videos and photos."
Video by: Gabriella Petty
A ten-year-old girl has become one of the first girl scouts to get every single Beaver and Cub activity badge
Image by: Beth Shaw
A ten-year-old girl has become one of the first to get every single Beaver and Cub activity badge.
Willow Woolhouse completed every activity badge possible when she was in the Beavers, and last week received her final Cub achievement.
But getting all 57 badges - proudly sewn down the arms of her green sweater - was far from easy.
She had to learn to horse ride, become proficient in Morse code, teach herself to cook the perfect omelette and master the martial art of Tang Soo Do - from scratch.
School prefect Willow also had to impress her cub Akela - leader - with her stargazing skills and make her own bird box to get her DIY badge.
The only girl in her cub pack, Willow picked up her final badge last week - a photography patch - awarded for her series of snaps of her proud mum Beth Shaw, 42.
Willow is one of very few girls to get every Beaver and Cub activity badge - Rebecca Hooper, 10, did the same in 2009, when there were fewer cub badges available.
Cub 'sixer' Willow moves up to the Scouts after Christmas - and has her sights set firmly on achieving all 62 badges there.
Willow, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, said: "I feel really happy about getting them all. When I look back on my life I can't picture myself not being a cub or a beaver.
"It's just that friendship with everyone there that's really got me."
Willow joined the 3rd Bramhall beavers when she was five-years-old because she lives opposite the scout hut with mum Beth, and scientist teacher dad Robert, 39.
It took her three years to get all 20 Beavers activity badges she could achieve - plus the Chief Scout Bronze award.
Her first badge - her favourite - was gained for cooking, and was achieved by mastering a series of culinary skills, including making an omelette for her mum.
Willow said: "It was the first time I'd used a frying pan. Since then though eggs are my speciality and I've even invented some original recipes."
She then got 19 more - including ones for cycling, disability awareness and collecting.
Image by: Beth Shaw
Image by: Beth Shaw
Image by: Beth Shaw
Image by: Beth Shaw
Image by: Beth Shaw
Some were completed at her weekly session, and others at school or home, but documented with photographs she could submit to her leaders.
Willow graduated to cubs aged eight-and-a-half, and began to work through all 37 available badges.
Her favourite was fire safety, which involved an exciting visit to the local station.
She said she only recently realised she'd got all available badges.
Willow added: "Because it was so long ago that I started beavers and I was so young.
"My mum probably told me I had all my beaver badges but I'm not the type of person who remembers that kind of thing.
"Of course, I will be involved with scouts when I am an adult, even thought I have ambitions to be a cosmologist."
She got into star gazing thanks to a scout badge, which prompted her to get a telescope for her birthday.
But despite all the badges, it's the friendship that keeps Willow going back to her weekly club.
She wrote a novel called 'Survival Girls' about her pals' camp adventures, which she hopes will be published one day.
Her proud mum Beth, an operations manager, volunteers with the pack.
She said: "I'm really pleased and proud of her, because these badges are quite difficult to get.
"And she never doesn't want to do them. She's so enthusiastic about putting the work in to get them.
"Sometimes you can submit school work in order to achieve them - sometimes you have to put a lot of new effort into it.
"One of the harder ones she had to learn how to horse ride - but she did it. For her communication badge she needed to learn morse code. They all have to put in a lot of effort.
"At school they say she's very interesting to talk to. She's got a lot of different aspects to her. She doesn't play on computer games, and she's not into TV. She knows about the outdoors and nature and DIY though!
"Her leaders have given her so much support and guidance. They are fantastic role models."
A spokesman for The Scout Association said: “Well done Willow - it’s a real achievement to develop all the skills required to achieve all the Beaver Scout Badges and the Cub Scout Badges.
"To achieve this feat Willow much have shown grit determination and resilience.
"She joins an exclusive and very small group of other Cub Scouts who have gained all their badges and in doing so have develop the skills they will need to make their way in life.
"We are very proud of Willow and of the volunteer Leaders from 3rd Bramhall Cubs that have supported her on her journey. Well done"
Video by: Gabriella Petty
DON’T LOOK DOWN! This is the moment a travel vlogger got himself into a tight squeeze as he ascended the spiral stair case of the ancient Ambuluwawa Tower in Sri Lanka.
Image by: Brandon Bruce
DON’T LOOK DOWN! This is the moment a travel vlogger got himself into a tight squeeze as he ascended the spiral stair case of the ancient Ambuluwawa Tower in Sri Lanka.
Standing on the peak of an isolated mountain at at a staggering 3567ft above sea level the elegant Ambuluwawa Tower is a mind blowing spectacle situated in Gampola, Sri Lanka.
The perilous journey to the top of the structure requires a trek up a narrow spiral staircase barely big enough for one person.
The climb is no easy task but it was small potatoes for Australian adventurer Brandon Cody Bruce who filmed his climb on a selfie stick showcasing the precarious ascent as well as some spectacular views of the Sri Lankan countryside.
Image by: Brandon Bruce
Image by: Brandon Bruce
Image by: Brandon Bruce
Image by: Brandon Bruce
Brandon, a 24-year old from Brisbane Australia who gave up the life of a fisherman for a life of round the world travel said:
“I started travelling solo at the age of 19 when I worked on superyachts around the world for 2 years, then at the start of 2019 I began full time travelling. Photography and videography have been a passion of mine for years now as well.”
“I was competing in a 10-day tuktuk tournament throughout Sri Lanka and this Temple climb was one of the challenges to complete to earn points.”
“The video shows me walking up the skinny staircase temple overlooking the beautiful scenery of Kandy and the mountains surrounding”
“It was very cloudy during this day so visibility wasn’t the best. If I could do it again I would love to go up during a clear day so I can see everything.”
Video by: Brandon Bruce
Watch incredible moment boy told he'd never walk gave a huge grin when he toddled into nursery for the very first time.
Image by: Rielle Chapple
A four-year-old boy told he'd never walk gave a huge grin when he toddled into nursery for the very first time - after his parents saved for his entire life to pay for an operation.
Bleu Greenwood was born with the most restrictive type of cerebral palsy and his parents were told he'd never walk alone.
But they refused to give up, and spent his entire life scrimping and saving £10,000 for a private operation which he had this summer.
And after months of intensive therapy he had his teachers in floods of tears when he walked into nursery on his own two feet for the first time, earlier this month.
With a huge cheeky grin on his face, the little lad padded into school using his walker - taking steps doctors never thought were possible.
Proud parents Rielle Chapple, 27, and Dale Greenwood, 28, said it was the best feeling in the world.
Former restaurant manager and now full time carer Rielle, from Leicester, said: "It was the most emotional moment of my life.
“It was so lovely and overwhelming to see because we never ever thought it would happen.
“It just shows how determined he is and we are so proud of him.
“We all had a massive celebration when he did walk for the first time.
"Everyone was crying because it was such a happy moment.
“And you could see how happy it made him.”
Bleu's twin died during pregnancy but he was born on August 27, 2015 at Leicester Royal Infirmary and Rielle said she had no idea he was suffering from any problems.
But Rielle, who is currently three months pregnant, said it became clear “something wasn’t right” a few hours after birth.
She said: “He was doing weird jerking movements and I knew something was wrong.
“Then when he was 10 days old he started having seizures.
“By the time he got to four months he wasn’t hitting any milestones and that’s when we got the diagnosis.
“They said it was the most severe case of cerebral palsy and said he’d never be able to talk.
“But they also said even with surgery he’d never walk."
Bleu's has stage five cerebral palsy - the kind with the most limited movement - so was not eligible for an operation on the NHS.
But his parents refused to take no for an answer and started fundraising when he was just ten months old.
They finally raised £10,000 so he could have selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery privately in June.
Image by: Tom Maddick SWNS
Image by: Tom Maddick SWNS
Image by: Tom Maddick SWNS
Image by: Rielle Chapple
Image by: Rielle Chapple
The operation at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre saw surgeons cut the nerve rootlets in his spinal cord which were sending abnormal signals to his muscles, causing them to contract and stiffen.
Rielle said: "We wanted to do anything we could to help him.
"We have fundraised for this operation his whole life, but it is only really beneficial to him if it is followed by intense therapy."
Post-op Bleu travelled all over the UK for intense physiotherapy sessions, costing £90 an hour.
And after five months of sessions, Bleu was finally able to take his first steps in the park using his walker, on November 13.
A day later he dazzled his friends and teachers at Wigston Menphys Nursery School by walking into school.
Rielle said: “He has made so much progress since surgery and has improved massively.
“He has no pain now and is on a really good path moving forwards.
“We will try to get the best out of him, for his sake.”
His great strides come despite him being hospitalised for infections and breathing difficulties in January.
At the time Rielle and catering manager Dale were told to “prepare for the worst”.
But little Bleu, who has also battled pneumonia, staphylococcus infection and sepsis twice, pulled through.
Bleu’s parents aren’t sure what the future holds.
Rielle said: “He is very severe and does have a shortened life expectancy.
“For us we just want to make him as happy as we can for as long as we can. I want to make him smile as much as we can.
“The operation has made him more independent and has improved his quality of life massively.”
Rielle and Dale are constantly fundraising to help pay for expensive medical and physiotherapy bills.
https://just4children.org/children-helped2018/bleus-journey/
Video by: Rielle Chapple
