WHO WALKS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? - WW2 veteran walking 100 lengths of back garden before 100th birthday has raised over £1million for NHS in just one week
Image by: Simon Galloway
A World War Two veteran who is walking 100 lengths of his back garden before his 100th birthday has raised over a MILLION pounds for the NHS in just one WEEK.
Tom Moore, 99, says the NHS have been "marvellous" in helping him recover from both a hip replacement, and skin cancer on his head, over the last couple of years.
As a way of saying thank you, the former civil engineer has been doing daily laps of his 25-metre long garden, with the aim of walking 100 lengths - or 2,500 metres - by his 100th birthday on April 30.
Tom, who began his walks last Monday (April 6), initially set a fundraising target of £1,000 for NHS Charities Together, only expecting support from his village of Marston Moretaine, Beds.
But after hitting headlines last week, Tom quickly smashed through his target - and has now raised over £1.3million for frontline health workers.
He told the BBC: "I thank the British public from the bottom of my heart.
"Who would have thought that when I set a target of £1,000 a week ago, it could have reached £800,000?"
Tom added: "It's difficult to imagine all these kind people who have donated so far. It's just amazing."
Tom's daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, who set up the fundraising page for him, has had to raise his target three times - from £1,000 to £100,000, then to £250,000 and £500,000.
She took to Twitter to say: "We are overwhelmed by the response. It's extraordinary. We remain proud and humbled by the generosity of the British public."
Tom was born and raised in Keighley, Yorkshire, where he went to grammar school and later went on to complete an apprenticeship as a Civil Engineer.
He was then enlisted in 145 Regiment Royal Armoured Corps at the beginning of the war, and in 1940 was selected for Officer Training.
After completion, Captain Tom Moore went on to be posted in the 9 DWR in India and served and fought on the Arakan and Burma.
After all overseas duties were said and done, Tom returned to the UK to become an Instructor at The Armoured Fighting Vehicle School in Bovington, Dorset.
To support Tom's walk, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tomswalkforthenhs.
Image by: Simon Galloway
Tom, whose total now stands at over £1.5million as of Tuesday lunchtime, took to Twitter this morning to write: "Wow, over one million pounds for our beloved NHS!
"I may be walking in my garden to raise money, but this is the British public’s contribution. You are all wonderful - and make Great Britain - GREAT.
"Thanks to everyone - we stand united even during the most testing of times."
And his daughter, Hannah, added: "£1.5 million - we are speechless, celebrating the news.
"Thank you - and a huge thank you to our NHS at this terribly sad time in the country. We are behind you every step."
Video by: Hannah Ingram-Moore
Hero Tom Moore was left speechless at the end of yesterday (Tues) as his fundraising total tipped over the £2million mark.
Having started the day on £850,000, he managed to raise more than £1.3 million in just seven hours.
With his fundraising total standing at £2.2 million by 4pm on Tuesday, Tom posted on Twitter: "2 MILLION POUNDS!
"When I started this journey last Monday, my target was £1,000 for our incredible NHS.
"Since this morning, we have raised another £1.3 million pounds.
"No words left... just thank you."
And in a subsequent Tweet, he added: "Over 100,000 of you have donated to the NHS - I salute you all.
"Thanks for joining me on this mission for our heroes at this very challenging and saddening time in the world. We stand united."
To support Tom's fundraising efforts, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tomswalkforthenhs
Video by: Gabriella Petty
A couple who had their wedding cancelled because of Coronavirus donated their wedding food to NHS staff
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
A couple who had their nuptials cancelled because of coronavirus have donated their wedding food to NHS staff.
Fiona and Adam Gordon fed over 400 staff at two hospitals over two days with the roast beef and hog roast which was supposed to feed their guests on Saturday (21 March).
The catering company they were using for their big day, Galloping Gourmet, is run by a man who has close links with veterans' charity Hull4Heroes.
And when they were dealt the mortifying news their wedding could not go ahead they got a call asking if they would donate their food.
Amazingly Fiona - nee Bromyard - and partner HGV driver Adam, 30, decided to go along with their wedding anyway - in a quiet church service with just them and two witnesses.
The 31-year-old, from Hull, East Yorks., said they had been planning their wedding for just over a year.
They were having a church wedding with a big reception planned for after.
She said: "We were catering for 120 day guests, and as the venue pulled out at the last minute the catering firm had bought it all in.
"We were having a roast beef dinner, canapes and a hog roast in the evening.
"That would have been a lot to go to waste.
"When Tony Norris from the catering company called us up to ask to donate we didn't give it a second thought."
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
The pair had paid £250 for their own beef but the £2,500 they've paid to Galloping Gournet still remains in credit - as the charity have footed the bill for the big feed.
The company are hanging on to their money so they can cater the wedding party at a later date.
Galloping Gourmet owner and Hull4Heroes volunteer and Royal Navy veteran Tony Norrie packed up his horsebox trailer and served food to NHS staff to say thank you for all their hard work during the pandemic.
Charity founder Paul Matson said they felt "choked up" as they served hog roast sandwiches to hungry NHS staff outside Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital in Hull, East Yorks., at the weekend.
He said: "Everyone was delighted, even the head of the hospital came out and thanked us, so we made everyone happy and that's exactly what we wanted to do.
"As we started and we saw the queue forming I think we were all a bit choked up. It was a really nice way for us to do something.
"A few even put tears in our eyes just saying, 'Look, this is absolutely wonderful, thank you so much'.
Fiona said: "The reaction we have had for doing this is absolutely amazing, but of course the real heroes here are the charity workers.
"We're just happy to help bring a bit of light in the middle of all this. It is times such as these when you realise what's important.
"The fact that we managed to help in some way because of this is a silver lining.
"The main thing for me and Adam is that we got married and we are together.
"We really wanted to get married on the 21st March as I lost my mum six years ago and that is her birthday.
"Our wedding was very low key, but we got dressed for the occasion and had my brother and mother-in-law as witnesses.
"We then went home, changed out of our clothes and had some champagne and cake."
A blind man has successfully prosecuted a fifth Uber driver for refusing to give a ride to his guide dog.
Image by: Colin Perreira
A blind man has successfully prosecuted a fifth cab driver for refusing to give a ride to his guide dog.
Colin Perreira filmed his latest rejection on his smartphone as he ordered the Uber to pick him up at Watford Junction station last summer.
Driver Mohammed Hafiz Raja would not allow the highly trained guide dog into his car and drove off - after the partially-sighted 24-year-old warned he was breaking the law.
In the video, Colin walked up to the blue BMW with his six-year-old guide dog named Sid, who helps him to cross roads and climb steps on trips out.
As soon as the driver saw Colin, he said: “I’m going to pass you to another driver. I ain't going to take your dog.”
When Colin questioned the driver, he said: “It’s my car mate.”
Responding, Colin said: “It might be your car, but you sign up to a specific agreement with Uber. The law states you are not allowed to refuse a guide dog.”
The driver insisted he has "the power to" refuse to take him and then drives off, leaving Colin and Sid standing on the pavement on June 27 last year without a ride to his father’s house in Kings Langley, Herts.
Raja, of Watford, Herts, was convicted at Westminster Magistrates' Court on February 13 .
He was ordered to pay more than £1700 in costs and banned from offering rides on Uber.
This is the fifth time Colin has taken this type of case to court, and he has won every time.
Commenting on the latest ordeal, he said: “What angered me most this time is the driver was so blatant in his refusal. Sometimes, drivers give medical or religious reasons.
"But this was the most blatant refusal I'd ever had. He didn't have a reason. I told him I'd report him and he said he didn't want a dog in his car.”
Colin explained that many Muslim drivers have refused to give a ride to his guide dog.
Image by: Colin Perreira
Image by: Colin Perreira
He said: “Most Uber drivers I come across are muslim drivers. Many Muslims seem to think dogs are unclean. It’s against their religion.
"They don’t seem to understand that UK law, under the Equality Act 2010 doesn’t protect them from refusing rides on religious grounds.”
He added: “Other drivers have said they are allergic to dogs, but they must have a valid medical exemption certificate. One driver said he was going to pull over to show me his certificate, and then just drove off.”
Colin said the four previous prosecutions also involved Uber drivers, but has defended his continued use of the app, after he said he social media users had criticised him.
He said: “It’s convenient, cashless and cheap. It makes my life much easier because I don’t have to mess around with coins. Ubers are always around the corner.
"It normally takes about five minutes, compared to 30 minutes for a taxi. Why should I have to stop using the app, because of the way I am treated?”
Colin, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, said it is important to prosecute to defend disabled people.
He said: “I feel like I am standing up for the disabled people and guide dog owners. I want to show that we won't tolerate this behaviour and that we will stand up to it.
“My message to drivers who refuse to take my guide dog is that I will not tolerate it. I will prosecute. I am not in the business of getting people to lose their jobs, I’m doing it to raise awareness. I have to stand up for members of the blind community.”
Colin, who said he has been refused more than 20 rides, said he is now used to being rejected, but is concerned about the emotional impact it can have on others.
He said: “I don’t take being refused a ride personally, although it does really anger me and confuse me that people don’t seem to understand what a guide dog is.
"I take action because it can have a long-lasting impact if it happens to others. It could stop them from leaving the house.”
Colin added he was grateful for the action taken by Uber and Transport for London but said the ride-hailing company could be more "proactive" to prevent incidents like this instead of reacting to them when they happen.
A spokesman for Uber said: "It is totally unacceptable for drivers to refuse to take a guide dog and we investigate every report.
"Any driver who is found to have refused to take a service animal will permanently lose access to the app."
Video by: Gabriella Petty
WATCH: Rhino bursts with excitement when he spots his favourite keeper!
This adorable video shows the moment a critically endangered rhino in a closed zoo got excited to see his keeper - and started running back and forth like a puppy.
The sweet video showed Crockett the black rhino's ears twitch as he spotted zookeeper Kylee approaching - before he started gleefully bounding up and down around his enclosure.
The six-year-old southern black rhino was filmed launching his front feet off the ground, just like an excited puppy, as he followed Kylee, who was skipping along the other side of the fence in tandem.
The footage was filmed at Fort Worth Zoo in Texas, USA, on Sunday afternoon (April 5).
A spokesperson for the zoo said: "Crockett appeared to get excited as Kylee approached his exhibit on Sunday afternoon.
"As he raced around his habitat, we affectionately said he got the "zoomies."
"Although the Zoo has been closed to the public since March 14, keepers and staff have been there every day feeding and caring for the animals.
"Crockett is the youngest of three critically endangered southern black rhinos here at the Zoo. He is playful and excels during training sessions with keepers."
Fort Worth Zoo focuses largely on rhinoceros conservation, specifically the critically endangered southern black rhino.
Conservation achievements have been made in Africa in the form of increased anti-poaching efforts, population monitoring, introduction efforts, and translocations.
The zoo is part of a cooperative breeding program in order to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse population of this species to provide a hedge against extinction.
In 2018, two new bulls made their home in the Zoo's African Savanna: Crockett and Travis - a nod to the Texas Alamo heroes.
Video by: Gabriella Petty
A couple converted a van into a home to avoid crippling rent and are now traveling across continents in the vehicle - accompanied by their beloved dogs
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
A couple who converted a van into a home to avoid crippling rent are now travelling across continents with their two dogs - and the coronavirus pandemic will not change their itinerary.
Crystal Drinkwalter, 25, and Jazmyn Canning, 26, decided to spend £15K ($18,400 USD) buying the 92-square-feet 2006 Mercedes Sprinter and turning it into a cosy home instead of renting an apartment.
The couple, who are currently in San Cristobal, Mexico, believe that the rapid spread of the coronavirus will not impact their travels.
Crystal said: "If we were in a big city, we'd be more worried but we are in the middle of nowhere.
"I feel like we are in the safest position.
"We spent the last few days hiding out in the jungle and only seeing four other people so we're not too freaked out.
"We've seen more sheep than people in the last few days.
"It's not going to stop us."
The millennials renovated the van themselves despite not having any plumbing or electrical experience and relied on YouTube videos to show them how to finish the job.
The mobile home includes a kitchen with running water, a pantry and solar panels on the roof - but no toilet.
The couple, from Barrie in Ontario, Canada, both quit their jobs as waitresses and have spent the last year traveling through North America in their mobile home.
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
They are now in San Cristobal, Mexico, and plan to continue exploring Central America and South America with their hounds Bella, seven, and Izzy, five.
Jazmyn said: “We didn’t want the van to just be a travel mobile, we wanted it to be our own home mobile.”
Crystal added: “The cost of living definitely deterred us from getting an apartment.
“Rent for a one bedroom apartment in the Toronto area starts at $880 [1200 CAD] and then you are paying bills on top of that.
“How can you do the things you want to do when all your money is going into the roof above your head?
“We wanted to make life our job, rather than make our job our life.”
The pair took five months finding the perfect van and a further eight months to turn it into their home.
“We found a 2006 Mercedes Sprinter with no rust,” said Crystal.
“It took us eight months to outfit the van and it was a lot of trial and error.
“We had no prior plumbing, electrical work or carpentry skills.
“YouTube was our biggest educator.
“We were working full time while we were building.
“The van cost $10,200 [14,000 CAD] and the build cost $8,200 [11,000 CAD].”
The greatest challenge was equipping the van to be a “four season vehicle” so that it could survive the bitter Canadian winter.
“We needed a four season van with a heater as it is freezing about eight months of the year in Canada,” said Crystal.
The tiny home includes a kitchen, a reading nook and a pantry - but no toilet.
“At the front of the van we have a bench that pulls out into a small bed and we call it our reading nook,” said Jazmyn.
“We put our kitchen at the right side of the van.
“It has 127 liters of running water.
“We have a cooktop, a sink and a fridge which can hold 72 beer cans.
“We also have a floor-to-ceiling pantry and that’s where we store all our dried goods, pots and pans, dog food and coffee.
“In the back half of the van we have a bed that we can fold away.
“Our electricity comes from two AGM batteries that are fueled by our solar panels on our roof.
“We don’t have a bathroom.
“We didn’t really want to clean a toilet in such a small place.
“There are so many amenities out there and everyone is kind enough to let us use the bathroom.
“We let the dogs out all the time so when they go to the bathroom, we go to the bathroom.
“We use a shovel and we leave no trace.
“But we do have an outdoors shower.”
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
Image by: Crystal Drinkwalter
The van was finished in January 2019 and in February the couple set off on their travels.
They journeyed to the west coast of Canada before entering the United States.
“We went to Washington, Oregon, Utah, California and Arizona,” said Crystal.
“We then came into Mexico, taking the ferry from Baja, a state in Northern Mexico, to mainland Mexico.
“We are almost at the border of Guatemala now.
“We are going to do all of Central America and we will ship the van from Panama to Colombia.
“From Colombia, we will go to Ecuador, Peru, Chile and maybe Brazil.”
In the last year, the couple have only paid for camping once.
“We sleep for free every night,” said Jazmyn.
“We feel a sense of security in the van.”
“The dogs help us out,” added Crystal.
“They are the perfect alarm system when we are sleeping.
“They let us know if anyone is outside the van.”
The couple said that the desire to take their beloved Australian shepherds with them on their travels motivated them to convert the van.
Jazmyn said: “We really enjoyed traveling together but we always had to leave the dogs behind.
“We decided that if we built up the van, we could travel with the dogs and then they could be our adventure buddies.
“They are the sweetest, most intelligent dogs.
“They are honestly our babies.
“They keep us going - and calm and happy.”
As an LGBTQ couple traveling alone together, Jazmyn and Crystal said they have to take extra precautions.
The couple, who call themselves ‘Van Wives’ on social media, even considered changing their license plate which showed the moniker.
“Our license plate says ‘Van Wives’ and we were thinking about changing it.
“But we are just going to be who we are and we get so much more positivity than negativity from that license plate.
“When we were at the American border, the border security officer said: ‘It’s a shame that you two are gay.'
“But we have moved on from it.
“As an LGBTQ couple, we have to do our research.
“We haven’t had any issue at all in Mexico.
“They have a lot of Pride flags all over the streets.”
The adventurous pair have experienced many breakdowns on their travels but they have learnt to fix most mechanical problems themselves.
“Our vehicle is 13-years-old now, so there are issues that come up,” Jazmyn said.
“It just needs some TLC every now and again.
“You need to get new tires, do your breaks, check the ball joints.
“It has never been anything that is very detrimental to our travels.”
Crystal said: “We have learnt so much - we can figure it out by ourselves.
“We’ve done an oil change and we’ve changed the filters.
“We have learnt from all those breakdowns.”
The couple added that traveling in a van allows them to feel a part of the countries they visit.
“It’s just about getting to call those beautiful places home,” said Jazmyn.
“We open the back doors and feel totally present.
“We enjoy that we have each other, food on the table and a beautiful view.”
The pair share their travel adventures on their Instagram account and YouTube channel under the handle @vanwives.
Image by: Crystal DrinkwalterVideo by: Gabriella Petty
Meet Loki - an overly affectionate raven who likes to CUDDLE
Image by: Elliot Manarin
A filmmaker has become best friends with a raven - and says the bird often comes inside for a cuddle.
The seven-year-old called Loki has grown up in captivity and now has a bond so strong with its owner that it regularly seeks him out for an embrace.
Elliot Manarin was offered Loki by a breeder after its owner passed away - and initially discovered a spiky personality.
But years of hard work, love and attention has seen the pair become best friends - with the animal even comforting the 33-year-old when his mum died.
Elliot, from Essex, says that ravens are misunderstood creatures and are not too dissimilar to humans.
The duo now exchange gifts and share jokes - growing so close that Elliot no longer sees Loki as a bird.
He said: "Loki's owner had passed away and was left to fend for himself for a few weeks before relatives of his owner eventually discovered him.
"He was returned to the breeder who offered him to us. He had no name and was apparently a well mannered and tame bird.
"This was far from the case. Loki was hyper-aggressive and riddled with chronic anxiety.
"He was scared of humans and acted on fight or flight. His mental health, as well as his physical condition, was very poor, his feathers were matte and he was missing his tail.
"It's taken years to establish a bond with Loki.
"I'm not a corvid expert, but over time I have become an expert on Loki.
"Through trial and error, I had to learn what was triggering his aggressiveness and work with him to build trust and make him feel safe and secure.
"In the early days, it was exceptionally tough and we nearly had to have him rehomed, but we all persevered and now we have a loving bird who is happy, healthy and enjoying life to the fullest.
"He is a truly unique individual bursting with so much character. We often exchange gifts and he loves to play with his puzzle toys.
"He has a taste for trickery and can often be found tormenting some of the staff, undoing their shoelaces and trying to trip them up.
Image by: Elliot Manarin
Image by: Elliot Manarin
Image by: Elliot Manarin
Image by: Elliot Manarin
"If given the chance will steal anything he can get his beak on, money, food padlocks anything.
"If we don't provide him with the adequate currency he will disappear and hide whatever item he has stolen until we provide suitable payment.
"Each item he steals has a value unique to him for example, a cleaning sponge is worth about 3 grapes, a padlock, a chocolate biscuit!
"If we don't provide him with what he wants the item stays hidden, sometimes for months!"
Elliot said he has now grown to view Loki as more than a bird, adding that ravens are much more like humans that we would think.
He said: "Loki is very much like a human, ravens have complex emotions coupled with their exceptional intelligence to problem solve, stimulation and companionship remain a top priority.
"We need to devise new games and tasks for him to work out whilst keeping his mental health in check, not allowing that to overcome him.
"But like most of us, he just wants companionship, he enjoys spending time with us and being in our company.
"People are also fascinated with his vocalisations of which he has many, these all symbolise various emotions from jealousy, fear, anticipation and joy.
"He's been known to laugh and chuckle at the precise moment someone tells a joke, slips over or otherwise endures something humorous.
"If he sees me trying to locate an item he's stolen and having difficulties, the sound of an evil chuckle can be heard coming from his aviary as he watches me bumble around in bewilderment!
Elliott said he has shared numerous moments with Loki - including one that particularly sticks out.
He said: "When my mum passed away two years ago, he knew I was sad. It wasn't emotional mirroring like dogs, this was something much more sentient.
"He walked over to me and locked eyes. He hopped onto my lap and rolled upside down onto his back, legs in the air.
"He rocked side to side whilst cooing the most dainty, affectionate sounds. I'd never heard him make these vocalisations and to this day he's never done it since.
"There is so much going on in their minds we don't really give them credit for. I've learnt so much from him and stopped looking at him as a bird a long time ago."
Loki was rehomed at Coda Falconry in Waltham Abbey, Essex.
Video by: Elliot Manarin
Spectacular video shows moment Peak District waterfall appeared to flow BACKWARDS during Storm Ciara
Video by: Helen Gant
This is the spectacular moment a waterfall in the Peak District appeared to flow BACKWARDS during Storm Ciara as it was battered by high winds.
Helen Gant filmed the extraordinary footage of water cascading upwards at Kinder Downfall in Derbyshire on Sunday (9/2).
Powerful winds caused the 98ft (30m) waterfall to blow in the opposite direction at the natural beauty spot which is located on the edge of Kinder Scout mountain peak.
Helen uploaded the footage to her Facebook page with the caption "Not crowded up here today" where it has been shared and viewed hundreds of times.
Keen hiker Helen said: "I've been scrambling up hills and mountains since I was little.
"Watching the downfall blowing up was pretty exhilarating.
“I've been up there quite a few times when it's been blowing uphill but this was the most spectacular so far."
When frozen in harsh winters, the downfall is also a venue for daredevils to take part in ice-climbing.
The natural wonder is part of the famous Pennine Way trail, which begins in the Peak District and stretches for 268 miles all the way to Kirk Yetholm at the Scottish Borders.
Helen, 45, a school data manager, said: “I’ve only really got into climbing recently but I have been walking and rambling since I was a kid.
"I love it and walk a lot. My mum and dad used to take us out to the hills all the time so I have been doing it forever.
“It was really exciting to see the falls behave like that. It was crazy. It was exhilarating walking along the top.
"I’ve been up a few times as I can see Kinder from my garden.
"I love exploring it when it does that. I’ve never seen it as dramatic as it was last Sunday though.
“The water was coming over the footpath so you get absolutely soaked when you get up there.”
Helen, of New Mills, Derbys., said she felt completely safe up the top and said others should not attempt the climb unless they feel comfortable.
She added: “It felt perfectly safe because the wind was constant. It was buffeting a bit but it was never blowing us towards the edge, always inland.
“I say it’s perfectly safe but I don’t want to encourage anyone to go up there this weekend. We felt secure in those conditions.
“It was still exciting, but you always have to take the risks carefully. A couple of days later it was incredible too, as it was frozen and covered in ice.
“People do go ice climbing on it sometimes, but its nowhere near stable enough at the moment.”
A mum has spoken of her "heartbreak" after her 12-week-old baby contracted coronavirus - in what is thought to be one of the UK's youngest cases
Image by: Jade Watson
A single mum has spoken of her "heartbreak" after her 12-week-old baby contracted coronavirus - in what is thought to be one of the UK's youngest cases to date.
Little Winter-Rose Watson was admitted to hospital on Friday morning (3 April) suffering from a severe temperature and struggling to breathe.
According to distraught mum Jade Watson, doctors initially ruled Covid-19 out but tests the next day confirmed the virus, she said.
Brave Winter-Rose was placed on a drip and left to fight for her life, as experts told the mum-of-two there was "nothing else" they could do.
Miraculously, within 48 hours the baby's condition had improved so drastically she was allowed to return home, where she remains in recovery now.
Jade, 27, from Burnley, Lancs., said: "It was the worst experience of my entire life, I was so scared.
"To see my baby struggling like that was so painful, I couldn't believe what was happening.
"I'm so grateful she was able to pull through."
Jade is speaking about her ordeal to warn other parents about being vigilant and staying indoors, following reports babies were not as susceptible to the virus.
Image by: Jade Watson
Jade said: "She's still got the virus and I don't know if I've had it or not, as the only symptom I had was a headache that wouldn't go away, even after taking headache pills.
"My son was with me a couple of days before Winter went into hospital, but now he has to isolate with his dad at his home as we don't know if he could have it too.
"It's been such a difficult time as I've not been able to have anyone come and visit. Even when I was in the hospital I was on my own, it was hard.
"You need support at times like this, but with this whole situation, it must be so difficult for people who are in hospital alone, not having anyone to come and visit them.
"That was the hardest thing - having no-one to support me at the hospital.
"I did receive a lot of nice messages from people online though. That was quite overwhelming, and made me cry but it's what got me through."
Jade said doctors are continuing to check on Winter-Rose's condition every day, and family members drop food and other items outside her house.
She added: "There's been talk of this virus not affecting babies the same way as others, but it does, and it has affected Winter so much. I had never seen her looking so helpless.
"I'd only been out of the house really to go to Lidl and Home Bargains but people need to listen to the advice, and stay indoors."
Dr Chris Gardner, Deputy Medical Director and Consultant Paediatrician at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We do not comment on individual cases but we are pleased to report that no babies or children cared for at the trust have needed oxygen or any respiratory support as a result of Covid-19 in keeping with the fact that this virus generally causes only a mild illness in children.
"We are however ready and able to provide all additional support including stabilisation, ventilation and transfer to intensive care and have good links with specialist children’s centres around the country for any future children who may require this.
"We would also like to reiterate the plea for people to stay at home to protect themselves and others.
"If you do need to go out please observe social distancing guidelines, and make sure you wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
"Children do however still get sick with other serious and treatable conditions apart from COVID-19 which often presents as only a mild illness in this age group.
"If your child is unwell and you are concerned, we want to see them.
"Do not delay in connecting with NHS111, your GP or in serious cases the emergency department. This is particularly important for young children and babies such as Winter-Rose."
Image by: Jade Watson
Image by: Jade Watson
The single mum, who also has a six-year-old son, said: “On Thursday she had a really bad temperature, it was about 38.5 degrees.
“So I contacted 111 and they advised me to stay at home.
"But at about 5am on Friday I’d set my alarm to check on her and she’d got really warm, even more than she was before.
"I didn’t even need to touch her, there was heat just coming off her. She was gasping for breath.
“I called for an ambulance but it took around three hours to get here. Her temperature had gone down slightly but it was still 39.1.”
Winter-Rose was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital.
Jade said it was "heartbreaking" to see her little girl in so much pain but it was made worse by the fact she had to go through the ordeal alone, without the comfort of having her family and friends around her.
The single mum claims upon arrival at the hospital with her daughter a senior doctor told her babies did not get Covid-19 and they would not be testing the 12 week old.
She said: “That really upset me, and they could see that.
"A consultant said he still wanted to give her a test though and they put a cannula in her hand and tried to put a catheter in her too, it was heartbreaking.”
It usually takes 24 to 48 hours for a coronavirus test to come back, so while doctors waited for the results, Jade says they carried out other checks and placed Winter-Rose on antibiotics to try to bring her fever down.
She added: "They put needles in her spine to check for meningitis and gave her antibiotics, but they didn't work.
"And on Saturday morning the doctor came and told me she had tested positive for coronavirus.
"It was the worst thing in the world to hear.
"She was on a drip to try to get her fluids back up but there was nothing else they could do to help her fight it."
Over the weekend, Winter-Rose's condition improved and she was allowed to go back to her home in Burnley on Monday morning, where Jade was told to isolate with the 12-week-old for 14 days.
Image by: Jade WatsonVideo by: Jade Watson
Shocking video shows a supermarket line HUNDREDS OF METERS LONG – as people panic buy supplies in the USA
Image by: Video Contributor 50
This shocking video shows a line hundreds of meters long outside a Costco supermarket in Irvine, California on Saturday, March 14, 2020.
“There were hundreds if not thousands of people in line,” said an onlooker, who shot the video at 9.18AM, as he was passing in his car.
“What makes it even more crazy is that Orange County is not a hot spot for coronavirus,” he added.
“Roughly 10 people have only recently been diagnosed with it and zero deaths.”
Video by: Video Contributor 50
A real life BFG who stands at a staggering 7ft 1in struggles to fit in aeroplane seats - but drives around in a TINY smart car
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
A real life BFG who stands at a staggering 7ft 1in struggles to fit in aeroplane seats - but drives around in a TINY smart car.
Towering Lydon Sutcliffe, 32, makes his colleagues laugh each morning when he drives into work - after squeezing his huge frame into his mum’s 60-inch high Smart Fortwo.
The friendly giant says he was mocked tirelessly as a boy for being so tall - after hitting 6ft when he was just ten - but his struggles have pushed him to help others.
No order is too tall for Lydon, who splits his time between his job as a disability support worker, a university counsellor and studying psychotherapy.
He had also appeared as an extra in Hollywood blockbuster, Rogue One and as a body double in Solo: A Star Wars story.
And the lofty bloke gets funny looks when he drives around Blackpool, Lancs., where he lives, as he travels in the tiny £16k 2016-model smart.
His Nissan Navara pickup truck broke down sometime in 2016 which left him with no choice but to drive his mum’s Smart - and he’s loved driving it ever since.
Lydon, from Blackpool, Lancs., said: “I bought the Smart four years ago for my mum because she needed a car.
“At the time I was driving a Nissan Navara pick up truck but it broke down and I thought I’d try to drive the Smart - and I fit. So I said why not?
“Everyone keeps asking me when I'm going to get a bigger car but it’s actually comfortable.
“When I get on planes it’s always a struggle because I have to buy extra seats or sit on Business Class just to fit. My legs always stick out.
“But I’ve got no issues with the smart. It’s like driving a go-kart for me and it’s a convertible so I do enjoy sticking my head out.
“People always do double takes when they see me in it, just because of how goofy it is - but I love it.”
The former Wimbledon groundskeeper became a support worker five years ago but said it’s been his lifelong ambition to help people in need.
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Lydon, who claims to be able to hug 20 people at once, said: “I think it’s so important we talk about our issues and I want to help as many people who're struggling as I can.
“As a tall person you suffer a lot of abuse throughout your childhood, you get mocked a lot and get made to feel horrible about yourself and many suffer with depression.
“But I want to spread positivity, and encourage people to talk. That’s my mission - I’m a big guy, with a big message.
“At work they call me the BFG, and that’s what I want to be. A big friendly giant.”
Lydon, who lives with his girlfriend, has lived an interesting life and has his own big name fans - as tennis legends Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal all approached him for pictures at Wimbledon.
He also played the role of “tall Ant” on ITV’s Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and a tall Jimmy Carr on 8 out of 10 cats.
He’s a big fan of Tyson Fury, who similarly battled his own mental health issues before becoming a boxing world champion, and has met him on several occasions.
The part-time stand-up comic said: “I’ve met Tyson Fury - he’s a great guy and I think it’s nice to see him have success after everything he’s been through with his mental health.
“I’m probably the only person who makes him look small, like a little brother.”
Lydon’s parents aren’t particularly tall, with his dad standing at 6ft 3in and his mum 5ft 6in - but his sister Rachel stands at 5ft 10in and his “little” brother Spencer is a short 6ft 6in.
His striking height means his encounters with people centre around his towering presence.
Lydon, who wears a size 15 shoe, said: "I had a woman recently ask me to pick something up for her at the supermarket, and thankfully she helped me get some of the things on the lower shelves I can’t reach.
“A lot of people will also assume I’m a basketball player or ask if I am one, and I always tell them my preferred sport is actually miniature golf.”
He consumes over 8,000 calories a day to satisfy his massive appetite, but says he’s always been skinny.
Lydon, who weighs 22 stone, said: “I was always really skinny but now I eat a lot. I eat thousands of calories every day, people think I’m greedy but I’m just a big lad.
“If I order a Maccies I’ll get a grand BigMac, three double cheeseburgers, three large fries, 20 chicken nuggets, two cokes and a milkshake to treat myself.
"People don't realise how expensive it is to be tall."
Video by: Ashley Moran
