Millionaire's son reveals he has been sleeping rough for over 20 years - since he was 15
Image by: TM Cornwall Live
A millionaire's son has revealed that he has been sleeping rough for over 20 years - since he was 15.
Privately-educated Ryan Staffiere, 37, has spent most of his life living in car parks and public spaces despite his privileged upbringing and being given all the opportunity in the world.
He dabbled with drugs at the age of 11 and his life went downhill from there, to the point where his affluent parents had no choice but to kick him out at 15-years-old.
Since then, Ryan has been living rough in Truro, Cornwall, and is now facing another Christmas on the streets.
He said: "My parents were millionaires. My family owned holiday cottages and I went to a private school. I’m a good boy gone wrong.
“I was kicked out when I was 15. I’m not thick, I just love the party scene. Now I’ve been on the streets, on and off, for about 21 years."
Ryan is a familiar face at a local homeless charity's resource centre, and is a favourite with the staff at St Petrocs Society.
They describe him as polite, kind, well spoken and clearly highly educated, taking the time to say thank you to every kind gesture.
But he admits that he’s no angel, with 93 convictions on his record and earlier this year he hit the headlines after demanding that police gave him a taxi ride home.
He says it’s been all down to drink and drugs.
Ryan added: “I was mixing with people that were using. It became a serious problem in my 20s, more than the drink was.
“I had a few girlfriends and lived with them but I was still on the drink and drugs. They were toxic relationships.
“I was a heroin addict when I was 20. When I was 25 the crack cocaine came down here. I got into it and then it’s just been a downward spiral ever since.”
Ryan often sleeps in a car park in Truro, in an effort to stay away from the weather.
He added: “I used to stay in car parks but I wouldn’t sleep. I just used to walk around at night; I was too scared to go to sleep.”
“You just get used to it. It’s no different to being a sparrow. They live outside every day. They don’t moan about not having central heating. Someone gives him a pasty and he’s chuffed.
“The worst thing is getting wet. You have to know where to go when it’s raining to keep yourself dry."
Image by: TM Cornwall Live
For most of us, the festive period is a time to celebrate and Ryan is no exception. I love it,” he says. “People are so kind.”
But the kindness from others has got him into trouble.
“Last Christmas I got banned from my mum’s house,” he says. “Someone had given me a bottle of tequila, a bottle of vodka and a bottle of brandy.
"I drank them all that day. My mum wouldn't let me in. I still see them. They don’t like my lifestyle but they have me round for a cup of tea and cook me a meal."
This year, Ryan has reached something of a turning point and next month he is due to start rehab. He hopes it will be third time lucky.
He added: “I will be in rehab and spending Christmas with the homeless. That’s what I want to do,” he says.
Ryan is currently living in a B&B and has enrolled on various courses, which have helped boost his confidence and given him a sense of purpose.
“Two years ago I was happy injecting heroin and smoking crack. I couldn’t get a f**k that I was on the streets, I couldn’t see a future for me,” he says.
“The course have given me something to do and opened my eyes. There’s more to life than just existing.
“I’m not sat on the streets begging, trying to get a tenner for crack.
“I go shopping every week. That’s something I haven't done before. I buy myself new clothes.”
“I’ve got courses lined up. I want to be an advocate for homeless people. I could take them to doctors appointments and things like that.
"I would volunteer at first but that’s what I want to do as a job.”
There’s one thing that motivates Ryan more than anything else, he has a 10-year-old little girl who he is not in contact with.
Her mother, Ryan's ex-partner, died from an overdose and his daughter currently lives with family members outside of Cornwall.
Thinking of their future, Ryan added: “I want to get a little flat and get a dog and learn to drive. I want to get a job.
“When she grows up she can say my dad didn’t do well when he was younger but he’s tried his best.”
RUFF RIDER - Meet the real Hairy Biker ...Rocket the motorcycle dog
Image by: Chance McBride
Rocket the dog loves nothing more than motorcycle cruising on the open road - perched on the shoulders of his owner.
The three-year-old Shiba Inu - named after a character from ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ - began riding with owner Chance McBride when he was just five months old.
He now rides on Chance's back in a special rucksack for carrying dogs, or rides pillion in a bespoke pet seat.
Chance, of Phoenix, Arizona, said: "I started training Rocket when he was 5 months old to ride the motorcycle.
"I put a towel on my gas tank and used a leash tied around my waist latching it to Rocket's harness.
"We would do small rides around the neighborhood. We did this on the weekends for a few weeks and he loved it so I bought him a 'Kuryakyn Pet Palace'.
"It's a great carrier that is meant for dogs and motorcycles."
Chance got Rocket after suffering a Traumatic Head Injury (TBI) three years ago.
Image by: Chance McBride
Image by: Chance McBride
Image by: Chance McBride
Image by: Chance McBride
He explained: “I’m not good with people after my TBI so I would go on rides by myself a lot.
"My wife and I moved to Arizona from Colorado so all my friends and family were miles away while I was dealing with my TBI.
"Getting Rocket was a great emotional help, he and I are very close and he helps me with my TBI issues.
"I love spending time with him and riding motorcycles, so we ride pretty much everywhere together.
"I have met a lot of people at gas stations, stores, and even at red lights due to Rocket, he is a great ice breaker.
“I love to see rocket enjoying riding as much as I do. No matter how bad my day is he can make me smile.”
The pair have even completed a 2,600-mile ride from Arizona through New Mexico, Colorado and Utah which took two-and-a-half weeks.
Chance added: “I now have a K9 Sports sack for him so I can easily take him with me running errands or to just get out for a bit.
"My wife now can ride with us on the bike when I use the sport sack. And now a friend their family has moved to Arizona so we all get to go riding together.”
Video by: Gabriella Petty
A man threatened his wife in a row over a large electricity bill - run up by his girlfriend who lives in a caravan on their farm, a court heard
Image by: Deborah Gingell
A man threatened his wife in a row over a large electricity bill - run up by his girlfriend who lives in a caravan on their farm, a court heard.
Arthur Grinter, 75, would visit Emma Ismay for ''kissing and cuddling'' in the mobile home every night after dinner - then go back to the house and family to watch TV.
During a row he complained the farmhouse's energy statement had reached hundreds of pounds - pointing the finger squarely at his wife and daughter.
But when his spouse Barbara pointed out the new woman was not contributing he flipped - raising a bread knife above his head.
He was found guilty of assault at Yeovil Magistrates Court and was given a restraining order banning him from the farmhouse.
It means Grinter, of South Petherton, Somerset, must now live permanently in the caravan with his lover.
Barbara told the court: ''I found out about a week later that they had been having an affair and we separated but still lived together at that point.
"On that day he came back to the house and was moaning that me and our daughter had a light on and saying that he had a big electric bill.
"He then helped me wash the dishes and was pushing my stomach up against the sink with his body and was still moaning about the electricity.
"I told him why should I have to pay for it when his girlfriend is not paying anything at all while staying on our land.
"He then turned violently and out of the corner of my eye I saw a bread knife and he said to me 'I’ve f***ing had enough of you lot'.'''
The court was told Barbara believes her husband was having an affair.
But he told the court they were “just good friends and did a bit of kissing and cuddling”.
He said: “I go to her caravan every evening because the atmosphere was better there than at home.
“I would come home after work, make a cup of tea and then go and see Emma before coming back to the house and putting my feet up to watch TV.”
He said: “I noticed the fan on and seven electric light bulbs and asked them why all this electricity was being burnt. It was ridiculous.''
He shouted "I've f***ing had enough of you lot" and advanced across the kitchen - before his daughter Natalie intervened and knocked the blade from his hand.
Barbara said: ''I could feel he was starting to get agitated and I then saw the knife in his hand and my daughter came rushing across and got it out of his hand and it fell to the floor.
"My daughter managed to get him off me and I picked up the knife and put it in the sink and I then picked up a saucepan but put it on the hob and didn’t touch anyone with it."
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
Image by: Deborah Gingell
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
The defendant’s daughter also gave evidence and said that she became aware of her father’s relationship with Miss Ismay in April this year.
On the day in question she said her father had been complaining about the electric bill.
She said: “When he picked up the knife he rose it above his head and I then knocked it out of his hand as I was worried abut what he was going to do.
“I was pushing him away and had one hand on his chest and another on his face and just pushed him out of the way and away from my mum.”
She denied an allegation from Grinter that she had punched him during the altercation.
When the defendant was interviewed by police he said there had been “a bit of a fight” and his daughter had been “a bit of a b*gger” for turning up the fans and putting the lights on.
Giving evidence, Grinter said he came over to the farmhouse for his tea, watched some TV and helped his wife wash the dishes.
He said that when he complained about the electric bill his wife called him a “tight c***” and said that Miss Ismay didn’t pay anything towards the bills.
He said he had not tried to push his wife against the sink but had just gently squeezed past her as he was drying the dishes and also denied picking up a knife.
He then said his daughter came and attacked him, giving him a punch, and he had no idea why.
He said his wife then picked up a saucepan and threatened to hit him over the head with it.
“She’s got a filthy temper and a filthy mouth to go with it, although she never actually hit me with the saucepan,” he said.
Miss Ismay also took to the stand briefly where Grinter asked if they were lovers and she replied “no”.
The defendant then became emotional and tearful and could not bring himself to answer any more questions.
Chair of the magistrates, Beverly Higgs, said that evidence provided by Mrs Grinter during the trial had been “calm, credible and consistent.”
Her daughter corroborated the sequence of events and both described an argument and said that Mr Grinter had shoved his wife and had picked up a knife.
They told the defendant his evidence had been “muddled and vague” and had seen no evidence of any injuries to him.
She said: “We are sure that the evidence provided by the Crown Prosecution Service was the more plausible and credible account and we therefore find you guilty of common assault.”
A victim impact statement made by the victim outlined that she was not well and she was scared this stress would affect her health further.
She said: "He has changed since Emma moved on the farm and am scared for me and my daughter’s safety.
"His actions have had a very big impact and I feel like I’ve been made a prisoner in my own home as they release their dog which is vicious and it stops me walking around the house and garden.
"I feel I am at my wits' end and have found it all too much and just want everything to stop and want to get on with my life."
The magistrates fined Grinter £300 and ordered him to pay £500 towards the costs of the trial and a £32 victim surcharge.
They also made a 12 month restraining order during which time he must not contact his wife or daughter directly or indirectly except through solicitors to sort out property matters and must not enter the farmhouse at Parkway Farm in South Petherton.
HERO DAD - A dad who died after a bleed on the brain has been dubbed a hero after he saved the lives of FIVE people by donating his organs
Image by: Gemma Ashdown
A dad who died after a bleed on the brain has been dubbed a hero after he saved the lives of FIVE people by donating his organs.
Jonathan Ashdown, 27, donated his heart, pancreas, kidney and his liver - after it was split in two - following his death.
The dad-of-three suffered from a tangle of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins, which caused a bleed on the brain.
He was diagnosed just five days after the birth of daughter Willow, and despite two brain operations died just two months later.
Devastated wife Gemma, from Tonbridge, Kent, made the brave decision to donate his organs to help others.
She has now been told in a moving letter from the Blood and Transplant Service how his organs saved the lives of four men and a young boy.
Full time mum Gemma said: "We are absolutely heartbroken at Jono's death.
"He was so young and had so much to live for. It's hard to imagine how we're going to go on without him, but it brings us so much comfort to know how many people he's gone on to save.
"When I saw the letter from the donation organisation it filled me with pride.
"I'm so happy Jono has such an incredible legacy - as such an amazing dad, I'm especially thrilled about the fact that he helped a little boy."
Tree surgeon Jono - dad to Emily-Jasmine, eight, Oscar-John, 17 months, and Willow, 14 weeks - started getting splitting headaches in July.
Image by: Gemma Ashdown
Image by: Gemma Ashdown
Image by: Gemma Ashdown
He sought the advice of his doctor and went for a scan at Tunbridge Wells Hospital that same month.
Medics revealed he was suffering from a bleed on the brain which had been caused by a tangle of poorly formed blood vessels known as arteriovenous malformation (AVM).
He was diagnosed on July 14th – just five days after the birth of baby Willow.
The former Tonbridge Juddian's rugby player had just celebrated his second wedding anniversary with his wife, Gemma.
Gemma said: "He had so much to live for.
"He was such a good dad - and so hands on with our newborn.
"We were looking forward to being back at home, as the family that we had always imagined, with our three lovely kids."
In the two months after his diagnosis, Jono had two serious brain operations to try and stop the bleed.
But the operations weren't a success, and he passed away on September 2.
Jono had discussed the possibility of donating his organs with Gemma - who initially wasn't sure if it was a good idea.
But after visiting a chapel with Jono’s father and discussing donation, Gemma went outside for some air and bumped into a group of people promoting organ donation.
She felt it was a sign and agreed.
Gemma said: "The only part of Jono that I didn’t want to donate were his beautiful, bright blue eyes.
"I saw a child in hospital once who had scolded himself and needed a skin graft. This really made me think.
"I don’t think anybody should have to suffer without the organs they need and my Jono has helped with that."
She received a letter from the NHS on 14 October saying a kidney and his pancreas went to a man in his 40s who had been waiting for three years.
Another kidney went to a man in his 50s waiting for a decade, and his liver was split between a young boy and a gent in his 50s.
The "very precious and especially rare gift" of his heart went to a man in his 60s.
His family also donated his soft tissues, yet to be donated, and currently being stored for future patients.
Image by: Gemma Ashdown
Image by: Gemma Ashdown
Gemma shared the letter on October 14 on Facebook - on what would have been Jono's 28th birthday, and it went viral, attracting 65,000 shares.
Gemma said: "He was truly amazing.
"Our lives are never going to be the same. I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and this has all been a nightmare.
"The children and I have gone away for a little holiday. I need to think and get things sorted out.
"But I want to give Jono the recognition he deserves.
"It's devastating that he won't be there to watch our children grow up.
"Mine and my children's lives have been turned upside down, but one thing I have learned from this is to live every day like it's your last.
"Cherish what you have got, never go to sleep on an argument.
"Cuddle your loved ones and tell them that you love them.
"You don't always need money, go out and jump in puddles with the children because things can change in the blink of an eye. I should know."
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Mischievous puppy sparks fire warning after turning on a microwave
Image by: Josh Hill
A pet owner today described how his mischievous puppy Bear sparked a fire scare after accidentally turning on a microwave cooker while he was out.
Josh Hill, 25, only discovered his pups antics when he checked a camera feed on his phone during work.
To his horror he saw his kitchen full of smoke and he rushed home to see if his six-month-old husky mastiff puppy was okay.
He arrived home to find a guilty-looking Bear and a room full of smoke pouring in from the kitchen.
To his astonishment, he realised cheeky Bear had managed to switch on a microwave which was on a kitchen worktop.
A packet of bread rolls which were left in the microwave began to burn causing plumes of thick smoke to billow out of the appliance.
Josh, who works in logistics, said: "He must have just jumped up and it has a knob on the microwave which he must have just brushed past and set off.
"I couldn't believe it.
"I bought a cheap camera on Amazon because Bear has the run of the whole of downstairs and I just like to keep an eye on him. We usually take him with us wherever we go but he was left for a few hours yesterday.
"I thought I'll check the camera before I leave and I saw some smoke in the corner so I rushed home and called the fire brigade.
"I walked in and saw smoke coming out of the kitchen. As soon as I came in Bear ran over to me with his ears down and head down.
"I grabbed him and put him in the garden, shut the back door, opened the windows and waited outside the front for the fire brigade."
Image by: Josh Hill
Image by: Josh Hill
With Bear safely away from the smoke, Josh waited for the fire brigade and thought about how he'd tell them about his peculiar scenario.
Josh from Essex said: "I didn't care about the house I just wanted to get him out of there. It wasn't as serious as it first looked, I was just happy that Bear was okay.
"I had put some bread buns in the microwave just to put them off the surface away from Bear and just forgot about them. I usually switch everything off but obviously we don't live in a perfect world.
"I normally take Bear to work with me or I'll take him to my mum's or doggy day car but yesterday was only a short day."
On arrival the fire brigade ventilated the house opening all the windows and using a huge fan to clear out the smoke.
Thankfully Bear was not harmed in the incident and he was back to his usual self in no time.
Josh added: "I can't really explain him. He's got a lovely temperament, every Gsingle person who sees him loves him because he is so chilled out.
"He loves sleeping- we have to get him out for a walk because he's always so chill!"
'I'm A Celeb' star and aristocrat Lady C has been sacked from turning on the Christmas lights in Prince Charles' home town - after comments about Prince Andrew
Image by: Jon Mills
'I'm A Celeb' star and aristocrat Lady C has been sacked from turning on the Christmas lights in Prince Charles' home town - after comments about Prince Andrew.
Lady Colin Campbell had been set to appear at the switch-on in Tetbury, Glos., on December 6.
The posh market town is located right on the doorstep of Prince Charles' Highgrove House estate.
But the 70-year-old's appearance has now been pulled by furious organisers after she said 'soliciting sex was not the same as paedophilia'.
Appearing on ITV's Good Morning Britain yesterday (Tues), Lady C made the comment when discussing the scandal-hit Duke of York and disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.
Image by: Jon Mills
Image by: Jon Mills
She said: "You all seem to have forgotten that Jeffrey Epstein, the offence with which he was charged and for which he was imprisoned, was for soliciting prostitution from minors.
"That is not the same thing as paedophilia."
A statement from Tetbury Town Council said: "The Town Council has been advised by the organisers of the Christmas Lights Switch on Event that, in view of the recent controversy, they have decided to ask the Mayor to turn on the Christmas Lights, with a pupil from St Mary’s Primary School."
The posh personality appeared on the fifteenth series of 'I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!', quitting the show on 'medical grounds'.
She is no stranger to controversy, having claimed earlier this year that the #MeToo movement has "prevented men from being men".
Highgrove House, the family residence of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, is located just two miles from the centre of the town.
British man claims new record for running a marathon in every nation on earth in 22 months
Image by: Steve Chatterley
A British endurance athlete has set a new world record after running 196 marathons in every nation on earth in just 22 months.
Ultra runner Nick Butter, 30, quit his banking job and embarked on his solo expedition in January 2018 after being inspired by a friend with terminal cancer.
He has since covered 5,130 miles in organised events across seven continents, overcoming the extreme heat of the Sahara Desert and bitter cold of Antarctica.
Nick has averaged three marathons in three new countries every week for the last 96 weeks - burning an estimated 1.5 million calories in 5.1 million steps.
During the 675-day adventure he has been hit by a car, bitten by a dog, broken his elbow and even been shot at.
Today he completed the final event - the Authentic Marathon in Athens, Greece - making him the first man in history to complete the feat of running a marathon in every nation.
He hopes to raise a total of £250,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.
Nick, of Dorset, said: "It's been the most incredible experience, I've seen things you wouldn't even imagine as I've run across the world.
"It took two years to plan which was really daunting, sorting out all the logistics and organising the flights and everything.
"Over the past 18 months, I've been through 10 passports and something like 120 Visas, I've lived in airports and hotel rooms, it's just been a total whirlwind.
"It's been such an eyeopening adventure.
"I thought the sights would be the best part of this experience but it's actually been the people - I've got around 2,000 new contacts in my phone from people I've met across the world.
"Sure, the views I've seen have been breathtaking - but it's the little kids running next to me wanting to hold my hand in some country I've never heard of before in Africa that has been the most amazing bit for me.
"It's gone so fast, yet at the same time feels like I've been doing it forever, it's a weird reality and I can't believe I'm at the finish line."
Nick has always been a keen runner, taking part in marathons across the globe, but his world changed in 2016 when he met fellow runner Kevin Webber during the Marathon Des Sables in Morocco.
He was immediately drawn towards Kevin's positive attitude and bubbly personality, but as he got to know him over the gruelling five-day event, Kevin dropped the bombshell that he had terminal cancer.
After being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014 and told he had two years to live, Kevin had set off running marathons across the world to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Nick said: "I couldn't believe that this guy, who always seemed so happy and full of life, had just told me he had terminal cancer.
"I was shocked, and when Kevin told me 'Don't wait for the diagnosis' it really struck a chord with me and I just knew I had to do something to raise money for the charity.
"Kevin changed my life that day and in the months that followed, I quit my job at the bank and swapped my suit for running shorts forever.
"People wait so long to live their dreams tomorrow, but tomorrow might not come, and Kevin's words motivated me to get out there, see the world and do what I'm really passionate about whilst raising money for charity.
"I took my camera along on my journey as I'm a keen photographer as well, and I've got photos and souvenirs from across the globe - it's been incredible."
Nick raised an initial £46,000 in donations to cover his costs and started his adventure running in -25 degrees Celsius in snowy Toronto, Canada in January 2018.
During his travels he carried everything he needed to survive, camping wild or bedding down with supporters.
He took 201 flights covering 13,500 miles between countries, along with 45 train journeys, 15 buses and 280 taxis.
Since setting off he has raised a further £63,000 for Prostate Cancer UK on his Just Giving page as well as about £20,000 in external donations.
With two books planned to be released in 2020 and a 1,000 day running expedition in the pipeline for 2021, Nick has set himself up for a busy return to his home in Dorset.
Set to run the circumference of Iceland in July 2020, he's not hanging up his running shoes just yet and is embarking on a speaking tour to inspire others to follow their dreams.
Nick said: "I'm looking forward to going out to schools and sharing my experience with others to hopefully inspire them to pursue what their passionate about.
"I've learnt so much about other countries and cultures throughout my journey, and the idea of teaching kids about things like a Nepalese prayer wheel is just amazing to me.
"The average human lives for 29,747 days, and if you're British, you spend about 9 years watching television, so it's interesting to get people thinking about how much time you waste not doing something you're truly passionate about.
"You don't know when you're time is going to run out, so get out there and chase your dreams today - as Kevin said, don't wait for the diagnosis."
Nick is continuing to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK and has a Just Giving page set up to help him reach his £250,000 target.
Just Giving - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/runningtheworld
GREATEST SHOWMAN - This is the moment superstar Hugh Jackman went 'full Wolverine' for one of his biggest fans during a show
Image by: Taylor Van Engen
This is the moment Hugh Jackman delighted a front row fan during a concert by grabbing his phone and recording an epic Wolverine tribute.
Taylor Van Engen, 29, was standing in front of the stage during Hugh Jackman's singing and dancing tour and screamed in delight as the showman did a Wolverine pose.
His reaction caught the attention of the X-Men actor who walked over and went "full Wolverine" - growling and shouting into Taylor's phone.
Taylor can be seen jumping up and down uncontrollably before Jackman hugs him and says: "You've waited one-and-a-half hours for that moment!
"For that moment! I love you brother!"
Image by: Taylor Van Engen
Image by: Taylor Van Engen
Image by: Taylor Van Engen
Image by: Taylor Van Engen
Image by: Taylor Van Engen
Postman Taylor said: "I lost sleep because I was too excited. For a week, I watched the videos we took and videos from other people's perspectives over and over again.
"During the intermission, I told my wife that I knew the Wolverine pose was coming - and I was gonna be ready for it.
"Hugh was going to do his tap routine, finish with the drums, then kick it out of the way.
"I was going to walk up to the security guard in front of us, stop there so they knew I wasn't going to be trouble - and Hugh did the rest.
"After the show, a few people shared their videos and pictures with us, and several others congratulated me.
"Even more would point me out and go - 'that's him, that's the guy!'
"I still like the fact that someone even referred to me as Wolverine to get my attention."
Taylor, from Rock Valley, Iowa, has taken his wife Sarah, a social worker, to see Jackman's show 'The Man. The Music. The Show.' twice this year.
He's has been a massive Hugh Jackman fan since he was 10, and has gone to the cinema to watch every X-Men film made.
His close encounter with the actor came when he went to see the show at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 13.
He said he wanted to get close enough to give Hugh a 'high five'.
As the lights went down, Hugh posed as mutant Wolverine from his X-Men movies - leading to cheers from the crowd.
Taylor went wild, shouting at the top of his lungs to attract Jackman's attention.
Taylor said: "One security guard came up to me and said that Hugh didn't do all of that for every show.
"He said it was special and really awesome. I totally agree."
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Family run hardware store creates tear-jerking Christmas advert to rival big budget John Lewis' for under £100
Image by: Thomas Jones
A family-run hardware shop is giving John Lewis and M&S a run for their money after creating their own tear-jerking Christmas advert - for less than £100.
Hafod Hardware in Rhayader, Powys, Wales, has launched its own emotive commercial with many claiming it is already the best festive advert of 2019.
The independent store's DIY efforts have been met with rave reviews online and the video has notched up over 100,000 views in just a day.
The adorable two minute advert, which took just one day to film, features cute two-year-old Arthur Jones stealing the show.
Arthur's proud dad Tom Jones, whose family owns the shop, and film-maker friend Josh Holdaway incredibly filmed and edited the video for less than £100.
The heart-melting clip has already won over the hearts of customers in the small town and has also grabbed a nationwide audience since being uploaded online.
The video begins with little Arthur getting out of bed before donning his apron and carrying out a day's 'work' at the family-run hardware store.
Sweeping the floors, polishing the counter and replacing stocks on the shelves are all part of his duties as the busy boy is also on hand to deal with customers - all with a friendly smile and big thumbs up.
The commercial - which features four generations of Tom's family - has a special twist at the end when Arthur shutting up shop before carrying home a Christmas tree.
It features a cover of Alphaville's 1984 hit 'Forever Young', performed by American singer-songwriter Andrea von Kampen.
It is the third year in a row that Hafod Hardware, which opened in 1895 and is one of the oldest businesses in the town, have released a Christmas advert.
The previous commercials have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times to huge acclaim and Tom is again hoping to once again put a smile on people's faces.
Image by: Thomas Jones
Image by: Thomas Jones
Image by: Thomas Jones
Image by: Thomas Jones
Tom, 30, said: “The aim is to make it the best Christmas advert of the year. The comments we've had so far have been amazing.
“Making this video with my son has been an experience I will cherish for a lifetime. They say never work with animals or children but he was a joy.
“He's such a bright boy and I would be lying if I said it was difficult to get him to perform on screen.
“He often comes to visit me in the shop, so weren't really asking him to do anything he hadn't done before.
“Whenever I watch the advert, it makes me well up with pride.
“Forever Young was the song I really wanted. I asked Andrea if she could do a cover and she was happy to do it.
“She recorded it in a studio and paid $100 for a sound engineer. I said we'd pay - so that's all the advert has cost us. She's got an incredible voice, it's perfect for the advert.
“All three adverts touch upon the significance of family at Christmas and so it was extremely important to me that Arthur had a role in each one.
“Showing the transition of him as a young baby in the first advert, through to the young man he is today, really does capture the essence of what we have been trying to create.
“We are told every year that Christmas is for kids, but there's nothing stopping us all from being big kids at Christmas.
“All the time, people are coming into the shop and asking us about our Christmas adverts. Even strangers pop in to say they've seen them.
“People are always asking whether we were doing another one this year. It's hard to say no, we feel obliged to do it.
“The locals love them. It's nice to think we can put a lot of smiles on people's faces in the community. It's always nice to do something for the town.
"People always compare our videos to the likes of John Lewis and we try to get the same message across as the mutli-million pound adverts do.
“But there is an underlying message. We are just a small independent shop in Mid Wales trying to compete with the big boys like John Lewis and M&S.
“We've shown that it can be done on a very small budget.”
Jo Lowe wrote on the firm's Facebook page: "Absolutely fabulous, well done another great Christmas advertisement who needs John Lewis when you got Hafod."
Angela F added: "Beautiful, made me cry. Well done for making such a lovely advert."
Sophie Walters wrote: "Best Christmas advert of 2019, hands down. Absolutely beautiful."
Video by: Thomas Jones
This inspiring dog with dwarfism is stuck in perpetual puppy-hood
Image by: Steve Chatterley
These pictures show an inspiring dog with dwarfism - that is stuck in perpetual puppy-hood.
Ranger is two-year-old purebred AKC German Shepherd who has ‘Pituitary Dwarfism’.
It means he retains his puppy-like appearance much longer than is normal for his breed.
Ranger was diagnosed with the rare condition - which German Shepherds are predisposed to - after he contracted a parasite called Giardia.
After recovering from the infection his owners noticed Ranger wasn’t growing at the same rate a German Shepherd should.
They took him to their vet who surmised that little ranger may have the Pituitary Dwarfism mutation.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
As a side effect of his dwarfism the poor pup has contended with various health issues including shedding fur and flaky skin caused by hypothyroidism.
With the unconditional love of his owners and some help from his legion of online followers Ranger was able to get all the treatment he needed and has now made a full recovery from all his health issues.
Despite all the adversity this under-dog has never let any of it hold him back.
Ranger is happy and healthy and can be found playing the day away with his family and sisters or enjoying online fame and adoration as the star of his own Instagram page.
Ranger has been filmed performing his ‘signature’ head tilt and playing with his sisters Hazel the Labrador and fellow German Shepherd, Jessie.
Shelby Mayo who is Rangers guardian, said: “When we originally got Ranger from the breeder, he was smaller than all his other littermates, but we figured that was because he had a parasite called Coccidia.
“In the weeks following we took him home and he was parasite free but later on ended up getting a parasite called Giardia.
''At the same time, we also discovered that Ranger had a large infection on his neck.
“We were eventually able to get the infection under control, fast forward a few months later we were finally able to get rid of Giardia.
''During this time Ranger remained very small, the vet had suspected that he may have Pituitary Dwarfism, a genetic mutation
“But we were still sceptical as this condition is very rare.
''Over time Ranger still did not get much bigger, and at this point we are certain he does have this condition.
“After a few more months we got him neutered and that’s when we started to see big changes.
“He lost his appetite, started to lose weight, lost almost all of his fur, and had extremely dry and flaky skin.
''Many people on our Instagram page warned us that Pituitary Dwarfs can have many medical issues, but up until that point we hadn’t experienced any.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
One of our followers ‘Guardians Farm’ are a small company that makes handmade soaps, lotions, etc and they sent us goat milk soap, which ended up helping Rangers skin immensely.
“At the same time another one of our followers who also has a Dwarf German Shepard told us to get his thyroid levels checked as many dwarfs suffer from hypothyroidism.
“So our vet checked his thyroid levels and sure enough he was low, this can cause hair loss and a loss of appetite.
“After getting Ranger on Levothyroxine and using this soap his fur grew back and the dryness went away.
Rangers litter was the first litter that our breeder had bred those to specific dogs together.”
“We believe this was the cause of the genetic defect. And as a responsible breeder will not breed the two dogs together again.
''He healthy and happy as can be as of now and loves jumping around and playing with his ball and squeaky toys with his two sisters Hazel and Jessie”
You can keep up with the adventures of Ranger and his family by visiting his Instagram page @ranger_thegshepherd.
Video by: Ellis Wylam
