Meet the adventurous moggie which loves going HILLWALKING with her owner - who says cats should have the same freedom as dogs
Video by: Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS 
Image by: Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS
Meet the adventurous moggie which loves going HILLWALKING with her owner - who says cats should have the same freedom as dogs.
Charlie the cat has just started to be let off the leash by owner Fiona Milne, 50, when they go for hikes together with a pal.
Fiona introduced Charlie to hillwalking slowly, first of all using a lead, but now lets her run free, picking her up if they see dogs.
These pictures show Charlie, a two-year-old moggie, happily trotting after her owner, on Greenock Cut, Inverclyde.
Fiona said: “We have not quite got her to the munros, but she goes out with us when we go for walks.
“She just follows along behind us.
“She just loves it.
“I started taking her out on a little harness, and we only take her to safe areas.
“When we go for a walk, we take Charlie.
“We sort of got her used to being out on a lead.
“It is just amazing, especially the reaction from people.
Image by: Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS
Image by: Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS
Image by: Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS
“We tend to take her to places which are quite open, so we can see if there’s a dog coming and pick her up.
“People stop us and say ‘we’ve never seen anything like it’.
“Being off the lead, she sticks by us.
“We want to show people what a cat can do.
“Everything Charlie does is what a dog would do."
Charlie spent most of her life as an indoor cat in Fiona’s home in Glasgow.
But when she was let out, she was bitten by either another cat or a dog, so now the only times she goes outdoors are on trips to the countryside.
Employment adviser Fiona said: “People ask a lot of questions, like ‘are you nervous about her going up a tree?’.
“The only time I think she might run up a tree is if a dog was around.
“I think it’s more exciting for her going for walks.
“She’s got a wee adventurous spirit.
“Hopefully it will inspire a few more people to broaden their cat’s horizons.”
Image by: Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS
WEIGH TO GO - An morbidly obese man once 'banned' from takeaways in his hometown has lost a staggering 20 STONE in a year
Image by: Mike Hind
An overweight man once 'banned' from takeaways in his hometown has lost a staggering 20 STONE in a year.
Darren 'Dibsy' McClintock embarked on the epic weight loss journey last October after doctors warned he was "eating himself to death".
In the months since Dibsy, who clocked in at a sizeable 40 stone at his heaviest, has lost half his entire body weight - the equivalent of hulking Hollywood superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger.
This time last year he couldn't walk up the stairs, wear a seat belt, fit in the bath or travel on public transport.
But since turning his life around the 28-year-old has competed in the Great North Run, fought in a charity boxing match and climbed Ben Nevis.
Six weeks ago he went 'official' with a new girlfriend, who he met after receiving messages of support over Facebook.
Dibsy said: "When I look back over the last year and what I have achieved I'm very proud of myself.
"Both physically and mentally I'm in the best place I have ever been, I'm really happy.
"Twelve months ago I had given up on life and thought there was no way back from the weight I had reached.
"Now I'm living the best life I can, it's amazing."
Much of the Middlesborough man's astounding success is down to personal trainer Mike Hind, who has been with Dibsy every step of the way.
They hit the headlines last year when Mike handed out flyers at local fast-food stops with a picture of Dibsy saying 'do not serve'.
It was then Mike set the ultra ambitious goal for Dibsy to lose 20 stone in the space of a year, which he achieved last week with seven days to spare.
Dibsy said: "The last year has been absolutely brutal and a massive challenge.
"There have been lots of really difficult moments and times when I've not wanted to get out of bed in the morning.
"Mike has been there pushing me the whole way though, he's been absolutely incredible."
He added: "When I saw I'd reached my target weight it was a huge relief and a big weight off my shoulders, literally.
Image by: Mike Hind
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Mike Hind
"After working so hard for an entire year it felt great to achieve the goal we had set."
Mike, who runs Mas Body Gym and healthy eating company Macro Based Diner, has provided his expert services to Dibsy free of charge.
The personal trainer has given his prize client up to three one-on-one private sessions per day as well as supplying all his food.
Mike estimates Dibsy's services would have cost a paying customer more than £50,000.
Dibsy said a year ago his day would have started with a full English breakfast before having a pasty and pie with a fizzy drink for lunch.
At dinner time he would have gorged on fish and chips or an Indian takeaway with a large bottle of pop followed by ice cream.
In total he was taking in around 11,000 calories a day, which is enough for a family of six, according to health expert Mike.
Nowadays Dibsy will start his morning with overnight oats before having pasta and vegetables for lunch.
A typical dinner is barbecue chicken with rice.
Mike, who has won two National Fitness Awards, ensures his client takes in around 3,000 calories every day but that he burns up to 1,500 more.
The personal trainer said: "I'm so pleased that we've achieved our goal, I'm like a proud dad.
"Now I want other people to follow Dibsy's lead, that's the message of all this.
"People who think there's no hope should look at Dibsy and realise there is, you can make the same changes."
He added: "But there's no magical pill that will make it happen, it comes down to making the right decisions."
Despite all his achievements this year Dibsy says his greatest one is making his mum, who was scared her son would die, proud.
He said: "The best thing about my weight loss is that it's put a smile on my mum's face.
"She used to worry about me so much and now she doesn't have to, which makes both of us really happy."
He's also over the moon to have started a relationship with girlfriend Jade.
"It's going really well, she's amazing," Dibsy said.
"She's really supportive of my weight loss and she goes to the gym as well, so we have that in common.
"It's really nice to have her in my life."
The next step for Dibsy is undergoing three surgeries to have the excess skin which has been left as a result of the weight loss removed.
He has been signed off by doctors and is hoping to go under knife for the first time in December.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
I'M BLOODY RARE - Meet the woman who has saved countless lives - because she has the rarest BLOOD type in Britain and is its ONLY donor
Image by: James Dadzitis SWNS
Meet the woman who has saved countless lives - because she has the rarest BLOOD type in Britain - and is its ONLY donor.
Sue Olds, 52, has the incredibly rare blood-type -D- and is the only donor of her kind registered with the NHS.
There are only 110 people in the world with the blood type - and 88 of those live in Japan.
It makes Sue's 46 donations so far especially valuable to the NHS - who have used it to save many lives including a baby.
They also take her blood to freeze for future use when anyone else with -D- are in need.
The NHS Blood and Transplant say if she continues to donate during her lifetime she'll have saved or improved a HUNDRED lives.
Sue, a support from Penzance, Cornwall, said she will continue donating as often as possible.
She said: "I had a phone call back in 2004 to say I had a rare type of blood but other than that not a lot of information came forward.
"Then earlier this year the NHS called me and told me the facts and figures, it's a bit overwhelming.
"I started donating blood in 1994 when I would go down with a group from work, we thought it was a good thing to do.
"Ladies can donate every 16 weeks, I've travelled a bit and you can't donate after visiting certain countries but now I'm back in Cornwall and back on track."
Sue's blood type, -D-, is a variant of the Rhesus blood group system, which means her donations can be given to patients with almost any Rh related types.
While the NHS has donors of other rare blood types, such as McLeod and Hy-, her unique trait sets Sue apart and so she is determined to donate as often as possible.
She continued: "As soon as I've finished I'll be on the telephone booking my next appointment.
"It's just one hour of your day ever four months, it's nothing.
"I know it will benefit people who have been in RTAs, or people who are giving birth for example.
"It's something I would encourage everyone to do."
Image by: James Dadzitis SWNS
Image by: James Dadzitis SWNS
An NHS Blood and Transplant spokesman said her blood has "saved or improved" the lives of dozens of people.
They said if Sue "keeps donating three times a year for life, that’s around 100 lives saved or improved."
They added: "What’s crucial is that for some of those patients, Sue will have been the only donor who could help them.
"No other blood that we have could have been used. For patients with the same type, Sue is our only current donor who can help them.
"No-one else’s blood could be given to some recipients without the risk of a potentially fatal transfusion reaction."
They added: ''We can't say how many people in Britain have her blood type, given how rare the type is.
''Basically, so few people have it, it’s hard to get a precise estimate of prevalence.
"But given only 110 known donors in the world have it, and only 30 people outside of Japan, you’d probably be talking a handful, but we don’t know."
Sue's donations could be used for cancer sufferers and chemotherapy patients, people who have suffered traumatic accidents, and for premature babies.
Back in 2017, two units were issued to a baby, one day after the other, and if it weren't for Sue's donations the patient may not have survived.
Sue continued: "It's a virtually painless procedure, and over the years I've got to know the team that come down to Penzance.
"They are a friendly bunch, I give blood and have a bit of a natter and a catch up with them.
"Some of my blood has gone on to save a baby's life. It's overwhelming, it's very emotional.
"Life is very precious, I think whether it's saving a baby's life of a pensioner's, it makes no difference.
"It's such a small thing that you can do but it's massive for the family of the person you save."
Mike Stredder, director of blood donation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We have an increasingly diverse population which means we need increasingly diverse blood donors.
“This can be particularly important in the case of very rare blood types – some types are almost only found in people from certain ethnic backgrounds.
“Our very rare donors like Sue are invaluable and we’re so grateful that she donates. If someone with a very rare blood type falls ill, there may be only a handful of donors in the whole country who can help them, or even just one.
“People from diverse backgrounds are more likely to very rare types and we especially need more black blood donors.”
You can make an appointment to donate blood at www.blood.co.uk
BLADES OF GLORY - Moment a nine-year-old double leg amputee who wears blades shows off her martial arts skills
Image by: Steve Chatterley
This is the amazing moment a nine-year-old double leg amputee who wears blades shows off her martial arts skills - in front of a blown away Taekwondo president.
Maisie Catt perfectly executes a pattern three Sam Jang routine which includes a front kick, middle punch and low block.
The footage was captured by her doting father, Jonathan, 38, a site supervisor, at last month’s World Taekwondo Championships in Manchester.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Maisie, who is a blue belt, and her family had been invited to attend the event as guests of World Taekwondo President Choue Chung after the pair first met in October last year.
Purely by coincidence, Maisie bumped into the president outside the arena who then proceeded to ask for a demonstration which was caught on film.
Maisie attends classes twice a week at Premier Taekwondo in Birkby near Huddersfield, West Yorks., and competes in Poomsae - which involves performing a set of Taekwondo moves.
She is quickly working her way through the belts and even trains once a month with the GB para Poomsae team although it’s not yet recognised as an Olympic category.
Her amazing progress comes following a difficult start to life when Maisie lost both legs after contracting meningitis as a baby.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
She wore prosthetic legs until she was seven years old when funding for her blades became available through the NHS.
Maisie took up the sport in January last year and her proud mother Sharon, 42, from Mirfield, West Yorks., believes nothing will hold her back
She said: “We were on our way to the event and the president had come outside for a short break which is when my husband started filming.
“It was a coincidence that we bumped into each other. Afterwards, he thanked us for coming to the event and asked how Maisie was getting on.
“She did pattern three which is Sam Jang, it’s one of her favourites. They are really pleased for Maisie and are absolutely blown away.”
Maisie had to have her legs amputated as a baby - one above the knee and one below - due to her blood being poisoned by septicaemia.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
She took up the sport last year after watching her brother Finlay, six, take part in lessons but has already shown a natural flair.
After just three months, Maisie was asked to attend a training session with the Para-Taekwondo talent pool and now trains with the squad once a month.
Para-Taekwondo is an adaptation of the sport for athletes with an impairment.
Since Maisie was given blades, Sharon believes her daughter’s life has been "turned around".
She added: “Back when she was a baby after she had lost her legs, the thought of taking part in a martial part was definitely not in the top ten things we thought she would have done.
“When she goes to classes it’s amazing to see. She is treated like everyone else and just gets on with it. There is no special treatment which I think is a good thing.
“She can only do non-contact sparring, but she always had a new target to work towards.
“Nothing is stopping her, she is a determined young girl and I’m sure she will get her black belt. I don’t think it matters how long it takes, she will do it.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
"She is a double amputee, to me it’s fantastic. To see Maisie love something so much is absolutely brilliant.
"She just wants to inspire other people. She wants others like her to go try anything.
"Anybody can do anything they set their mind too, in spite of any difficulties."
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art with speciality head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques.
Competitors wear white robes and compete in sparring, breaking boards and self-defence techniques.
Video by: Jonathan CattVideo by: Sarah Mundy
Age gap couple proud of their successful marriage- despite having over three decades between them
Video by: Ashley Moran 
Image by: James Linsell Clark SWNS
A devoted husband and wife who wed when he was just 17 and she was 51 are due to celebrate 18 years of marriage - despite family and friends saying it would not last.
Teenager Jay Barham and divorced, mum-of-two Linda fell head over heels in love in 2000 despite their staggering 31 year age gap.
The loved-up couple wed the following year after a whirlwind romance which shocked many of their close friends and relatives.
Now Jay, 36, and Linda, 69, are due to celebrate 18 years of marriage in July with both insisting they are 'more in love than ever.'
Jay said; "Linda has been called a child snatcher, I've been called a granny basher.
"We've been called names in the street, and sometimes people think she is my mum.
"But we don't care what people say.
"Our marriage has lasted a lot longer than many others and we are still very much in love."
Jay was a trainee youth worker when he first met council youth worker Linda.
The couple say they were instantly attracted and bonded during driving lessons she gave him and through their love of music.
Jay added: "For eight weeks she was helping me learn how to drive.
"And then one time a track just started playing and we just kissed.
"For the life of me I can't remember which one but it had to be Elton John because he's our favourite.
"It was completely unspoken up until that point, but as it happened it was like the sun just came out and it was a shock to both of us."
It took Jay, who had had three previous serious girlfriends before Linda, three days to get over the shock of the kiss before asking her out on a date.
At the time Linda, from Hardcourt, Essex, was concerned for the feelings she felt for a boy the same age as her son Simon.
She said: "I just thought: 'this is wrong', I felt awful.
"But I was divorced for five years, my children were all grown up and knew that it just felt right"
Linda's children Alan (13) and Simon (17) were "shell shocked" at the idea of the relationship but decided that "as long as mum happy, nothing else matters."
For Jay's parents, who were over a decade younger than his new girlfriend, they thought it was just a flash in the pan.
Jay said: "They were okay about it, they just thought: 'Oh well it will last if it lasts.'
"We were more worried about how my nan would react, but she was fantastic about it."
In spite of doubtful friends that were certain the relationship would never workout, Jay and Linda got married eight months after meeting in July 2001.
Jay said: "We got married at Colchester Registry office on Friday the 13th, and everyone told us that we shouldn't as it was an unlucky day.
"And then my suit didn't fit, our car broke down, the ring didn't fit and it got to the point that I'd just wear trackies and a top"
Linda said: "We were happy to get a bus to the wedding, but our family stepped in and sorted us out"
Jay and Linda have worked together for most of their married lives at an Asda bakery and are now opening a small cafe together near their home in Hardcourt, Essex.
Image by: Adam Harnett
Image by: James Linsell Clark SWNS
Image by: Adam Harnett
Jay's mother Valerie, who died in 2014, was 12 years younger than Linda but the two were still extremely close.
He said: "Linda and my mum gelled really well, there were absolutely no problems.
"My dad has a really good relationship with Linda, he actually describes her as 'the daughter he never had'.
"We all go on holiday together and we're incredibly close."
In fact, bemused onlookers always mistake that Jay's dad Stephen and Linda as his parents.
"Of course people always think I'm their child and they're my parents, but we just laugh at it.
"It's understandable, all sorts of people ask all sorts of questions.
"But I've never thought about age, I just think about the woman I love."
Jay and Linda are un-bothered by people's comments about their extreme age gap.
Jay said "People have said horrible things to us in the street.
The couple have even had their car windows smashed in what they assume to be an attack on their marriage.
Jay said: "We just got on with it, even now people frown on it.
"I always reply to people like that asking how many divorces they've had.
"Most marriages have all split up, regardless of their age."
Linda thinks there is some hypocrisy in judging older woman more so than older men that have young partners.
"If it's a man then you're doing well for yourself, but then if you are a woman then you're disgusting and frowned upon.
"We just love each other, we haven't done this for fame or for money, we just love and think about each other."
When the couple first got married, Linda was still able to have children but Jay was never keen in being a parent.
"I never wanted to be a father, I'm one of those people that just keep the toys to myself.
"I'm just not the parent type, I much prefer having grandchildren as you get to give them back."
Linda has seven grandchildren between the ages of four weeks and 18 years-old.
Jay says that he never thinks about the likelihood Linda will die before him: "I treat everyday as my last so there's no point in worrying about numbers.
"Personally the biggest positive about being married to an older woman is the civility, being able to speak about feelings and not pushing them under.
"We have adapted our lives [for Linda's age] for example instead of walking ten miles we'll go for a ride in the car."
Although they have adapted their lives in some aspects, they certainly haven't changed anything in the bedroom."
Jay wasn't a virgin when he starting Linda and he described himself as "well experienced."
"You don't just stop having sex when you reach 65.
"She still haves that drive, I don't know why people think you die sexually at 50."
The secret to a happy marriage, according to Jay, is simply about loving one another.
"I think it's spending so much time together, we love each other and we do everything together.
"The only think we argue about is the cat, and even then we never go to bed without sorting everything out."
TINY GOLFER - Talented toddler who has already been playing golf half his life has been hailed the next Rory McIlroy because of his exceptional skill off the tee
Image by: Steve Chatterley
A talented toddler who has already been playing golf half his life has been hailed the next Rory McIlroy because of his exceptional skill off the tee.
Little George Hughes can already drive, pitch and putt the ball despite only celebrating his third birthday last month.
His longest shot to date is 100 yards and earlier this year he completed an entire hole for the first time in 11 shots.
The little lad regularly takes to the course with his own set of clubs and a tiny glove but he can't wear golf shoes or clothing yet as no brand make them in his size.
George's golf mad granddad Tony Sedgwick, 48, sparked the youngster's love of the game when he bought him a set of plastic toy clubs 18 months ago.
"It's really fun going to the golf range and to the golf course with my granddad," George said.
"I love whacking the golf ball."
He added: "When I'm famous I'm going to buy my mummy a new house and granddad some new golf balls."
Business manager Tony recognised his grandson's exceptional skill early on and nowadays the two can regularly be seen together at the 18-hole Wigan Golf Club.
He said: "George just absolutely loves golf, he can't get enough of it.
"He loves going to the driving range and having a whack or even just coming to the course with me when I go for a round.
"He's definitely made me super proud."
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
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
The granddad-of-two added: "At the moment it's all about him having fun but there's no doubt he has a huge amount of natural talent.
"He's my little Rory McIlroy."
Tony said George first picked a club up more than 18 months ago, when he stumbled across one of his in the back garden.
"Even at such a young age you could tell he had a natural talent for the game," Tony said.
"The clubs were obviously too big and heavy for him but he was swinging away."
Not long after purchasing the lad plastic clubs Tony went all the way and got him a set of real ones in the smallest possible size.
Within weeks George was successfully making solid contact with the ball.
His proud mum Louise Sedgwick, 26, had to ban him from using real balls in the garden after he nearly smashed the conservatory window.
But he's still able to practice everyday with light plastic ones.
Seventeen months ago Louise's husband and George's dad Dave Hughes tragically died aged 32 due to complications from a heart transplant.
Louise, who's now training to be an organ transplant nurse, said: "George was very young when Dave died but the tragedy has still definitely had an impact on him.
"Sometimes he'll cry and ask for his daddy, which is heartbreaking but we make sure we talk about Dave all the time so he's a part of George's life."
She added: "Golf has been a brilliant thing for George to focus on since his dad died.
"It's amazing to see how well he's doing despite everything he's been through."
George is so confident from the tee now he's started giving experienced adult golfers advice at the range, Tony said.
"He'll go up to people and tell them to move their legs together and keep their head still, it's hilarious," he added.
"Everyone absolutely loves George, no one can believe he's only just turned three when they see him play."
Tony hopes a major golf brand will recognise his grandson's talent and pick him up.
With golf participation numbers for youngsters in the UK at an all time low Tony believes a child star like George could be the injection of excitement the game needs.
Tony Byrom, the professional at Wigan Golf Club, said: "I've never seen such a natural golf swing from a player so young.
"Even more impressive than that is that a three-year-old actually listens to you when you show him things.
"George is a great example of how youngsters can enjoy the game, it's a pleasure to see him play."
Video by: Ashley Moran
A three-year-old boy died from an incurable cancer - after it was misdiagnosed as a ‘sprained ankle’
Image by: Adam Harnett
A three-year-old boy died from an incurable cancer - after it was misdiagnosed as a ‘sprained ankle’, his family say.
Logan Maclean’s family grew concerned after his right leg was sore and he started limping but medics dismissed it as a sore ankle.
He started hobbling on his right leg but his loved ones say in October 2016 a doctor from his hometown of Largs, North Ayrshire initially diagnosed a sprained ankle.
But after the toddler started losing strength in his arm, he was taken to A&E at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.
After CT and MRI scans, it was revealed little Logan actually had intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a deadly form of brain cancer that has a zero per cent survival rate.
His heartbroken gran Fiona Govan, 49, said: “We took him to a practice in Largs where the doctor thought he had sprained his ankle, because he was walking awkwardly.
“But on his third visit to A&E they noticed weakness in his arm, which then led them to believe it was a neurological problem.
“They thought he’d had a mini stroke.
“At Crosshouse Hospital they did an MRI then he was referred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Kids in Glasgow and he got put on steroids.
“They started to think it was DIPG but they wanted a biopsy to be certain so they could give him the right palliative treatment.”
Logan had six weeks of radiotherapy from around Christmas 2016 to early February, 2017, but it soon became clear Logan didn’t have long left.
Outreach nurses visited Logan’s mother Sapphire Maclean, 29, and Fiona and some of her daughter’s close friends rallied round to help in the youngster’s final months.
Logan passed away at home on October 17, 2017, only weeks after his third birthday.
He is survived by his little brother Ezra, two, who was only seven weeks old when Logan was first diagnosed.
Fiona, a civil servant from Dalry, North Ayrshire, said: “We were like most families, we’d never even heard of it before.
“A child who developed a limp was now terminal.
“We had to come to terms with it that he didn’t have long and my daughter concentrated on making sure he did.
“We done a make a wish trip to Croatia and weekend for two trips to Calums Cabin in Rothesay.
“There’s nothing you can do, you just need to try your best and make your memories.
“Ezra was too young to have memories of his brother, but we’ve got pictures of him he can look at and we hope that one day he might do something in Logan’s memory.
“Logan was just amazing.
“He was such a gentle wee soul.
“His brother’s feisty, but he was gentler.
“It was a privilege to know him and stand with him.''
Image by: Adam Harnett
Image by: Adam Harnett
Now the family are seeking to raise awareness of the debilitating condition, which affects 30 to 40 children each year in the UK.
DIPG is a tumour located in the middle area - or ‘pons’ - of the brain stem and is the second most common severe brain tumour among children.
Fiona said she is “angry” at the lack of funding and research put into finding a cure and has started an online petition, which has gained more than 40,000 signatures.
Fiona said: “Logan was a joy and shouldn’t have died.
“I’m sad. I wish it wasn’t him or any other child but I’m angry about the lack of research that’s been done.
“It goes wider than DIPG. Even with other children’s cancers so many other kids are left to suffer and there needs to be a lot more focus on tackling child cancers generally.”
Fiona only expected to get 10,000 signatures, but after a “rubbish” response from the government after reaching her first petition milestone, she persevered.
She has since been in contact with the House of Commons Petitions Committee who have supported her in her efforts.
Fiona now needs 100,000 by tomorrow (Mon) for it to be debated in parliament.
The gran of two added: “If there’s a way to get it to 100,000 I’m going to go all out and try anything to get the message out there.
“I do genuinely believe there are other families and MPs who won’t accept a rubbish answer and we’ll demand a better response from the government.
“I’m not going to stop.”
Joanne Edwards, director of Acute Services for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, said: “Our condolences and thoughts are with Logan Maclean’s family.
"We would encourage the family to contact us directly with any concerns about the care or treatment provided to their relative.”
Fiona’s petition can be visited at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/239638
An elderly couple were held hostage in their seaside home by seagulls - for six DAYS
Image by: Steve Chatterley
An elderly couple were held hostage in their seaside home by seagulls for six DAYS - and even ended up in hospital.
Roy and Brenda Pickard were unable to get out of their front door for almost a week after two seagull chicks slipped onto the canopy directly above their door.
The positioning of the baby gulls - just nine foot off the ground - meant any time Roy attempted to leave his home, he was confronted by two squawking adult seagulls.
At one point, 77-year-old Roy was hit so hard on the back of the head by one bird he had to be taken to hospital to treat the bloody wound.
Speaking about how difficult it has been to complete simple tasks while stranded inside, Roy from Knott End, Lancs., said: "The whole thing has been terrible.
"I've not been able to go out of the front door. If I try to get out of the door, the two adult birds are right there and I've got no chance. It's genuinely frightening."
He added: "My wife isn't well or very mobile at the moment so we're relying on me to get out.
"Thankfully, we have an integrated garage and I can get into it from the kitchen, open the garage door and drive out to get our shopping, but I have to leave the garage door open, which isn't ideal."
Retired ambulance man Roy can't bear to think what would have happened had he been injured more seriously by the seagull on his first attempt outside.
He said: "If that bird had hit me in the face instead of the back of the head, I dread to think how seriously injured I would have been.
"I had to go to Royal Lancaster Infirmary to get treatment but thankfully I could get in the car."
Frustratingly for Roy, Wyre Council revealed the gulls were Herring Gulls and are protected once nesting - which meant the couple had limited solutions available.
Frantic Roy also phoned the RSPCA, the RSPB and his local BBC radio station after the siege started last Friday (14/06).
Eventually BBC Radio Lancashire came out to the couple's home and arranged for a gazebo to be set up temporarily outside the door to provide some relief.
Roy has been left furious with the lack of help from the animal organisations.
Image by: JP Blackpool Gazette
Image by: JP Blackpool Gazette
Image by: JP Blackpool Gazette
Image by: JP Blackpool Gazette
He said: "The RSPCA and RSPB have been no help whatsoever, they seem to put the rights of these birds above those of people, which is ridiculous.
"The public pays donations to keep these organisations going and this is what you get.
"Wyre Council sent a man down and he took a photo, and then they seemed to tell me they would bring someone else around with an umbrella to protect us.
"But they don't seem to be able to do anything about the birds - and these chicks could be there until the end of July.
"Why are seagulls protected? They are not an endangered species, they're a flaming nuisance."
A Wyre Council spokesman said: "“We sympathise with Mr Pickard’s situation, seagulls can be troublesome, particularly when nesting.
"We have visited Mr Pickard to assess the situation and have given advice on how he can deal with the gulls.
"For now, a solution is in place which will enable Mr Pickard to take his wife to her private appointment.
"The gulls in question are Herring Gulls and they are protected once nesting and so there are limited solutions available.
"We advise residents who have a problem with seagulls to bird proof their properties prior to the breeding season.
"We offer advice and support on our website on how you can bird proof you property at www.wyre.gov.uk/seagulls.”
Image by: Steve ChatterleyVideo by: JP Blackpool Gazette
NO PAIN NO GAIN - Woman completes London Marathon with BROKEN ankle - after wrapping leg in bandages 18 miles from finish
Video by: Siobhan O'Keeffe 
Image by: Siobhan O'Keeffe
A woman ran 18 miles of the London Marathon with a BROKEN ankle - wrapping her leg in bandages to cross the finish line.
Siobhan O’Keeffe, 25, broke her ankle eight miles and ran 18 miles - for more than four hours - with her fibula bone snapped in half.
Recruitment consultant, Siobhan, incredibly managed to complete the London Marathon despite snapping her ankle less than a third of the way through the race.
She fought back the tears and battled on through excruciating pain to finish the race in just over six hours.
But that was after the plucky runner had to stop after eight miles to get her ankle bandaged up by first aiders.
“It started hurting after about four miles but it just got worse and worse”, said Siobhan, from Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey.
“I had to stop after eight miles. It felt bruised and really heavy, I thought it was sprained. I didn’t think it’d be possible to run on a broken ankle.
“The pain was unbearable but all I wanted to do was finish. I had tears in my eyes. The adrenaline just kicked in.”
Siobhan was forced to stop after eight miles when she came across St John’s Ambulance medics.
She says the lower part of her leg was swollen and red, and was advised to stop running by first aiders.
But determined Siobhan, who was running in aid of the Children With Cancer charity, says dropping out of the race was never an option.
She has raised £6,000 for the charity with her work colleague, Sarah Hopkins, 32, and with her ankle now wrapped in bandages, picked herself up and started running again.
Siobhan, who initially wanted to complete the marathon in around five hours, said: “The St. John’s Ambulance people said ‘maybe you should stop now’.
“But I needed to get to the end. All of my family were there and I was running for charity. I didn’t want to let anyone down.
“The pain was really bad. I had to walk a bit but did carry on running. I ended up running with the a pacer.
“I was in a group of people and that really helped me along. I knew I wasn’t going to get the time I wanted so I just ended up wanting to finish at all.
“I was gutted. I think I’d be able to hit my target.”
Siobhan had spent four months training her body to run the marathon on Sunday (April 28).
Image by: Siobhan O'Keeffe
Image by: Siobhan O'Keeffe
Image by: Siobhan O'Keeffe
She had nailed her race preparation and was buzzing with excitement on the start line of one of the world’s most famous races.
But Siobhan’s once-in-a-life-time marathon experience has been overshadowed, she says.
“Running was just agony. I can’t explain how much it hurt.
“I joked with another runner that if felt as though I was running on a broken ankle.
“I feel like I have unfinished business with the marathon. I did say never again when I finished but I’ll never say never.”
Siobhan says the pain never went away and was only temporarily numbed by the roar of the crowds as she ran down The Mall towards the finish line.
But even after picking up her finisher’s medal - Siobhan says she didn’t go to A&E until the next morning.
Siobhan went home to celebrate with her family and even went to sleep with her ankle still broken - before waking up at 2am in “agony”.
She went along to A&E at West Middlesex Hospital in the early hours of Monday morning (April 29).
She was taken for an X-ray which revealed her fibula bone has snapped near her ankle joint - leaving doctors baffled at how she managed to complete the race.
Siobhan said: “The orthopedic surgeon said he had no idea how I ran with it. He said it was a trauma break. He couldn’t believe it.
“Everyone at hospital said I’m amazing for what I did. No one can believe it.”
Siobhan’s ankle is now encased in a cast and will find out on Friday if she needs an operation.
If not, she will need to wear the cast for up to six weeks but her recovery may go on for longer if surgery is required.
LOST AND HOUND - Dog rescued after women spend 15 WEEKS in park trying to catch her with thermal imaging, night goggles, traps and meatballs
Image by: Shelly Spiller
A dog on the run has finally been rescued after three women spent 15 WEEKS tracking her down - using spy cameras, night goggles and make-shift trap filled with meatballs.
Shelly Spiller, 32, Amanda James, 42, and Hazel Richards, 52, spent nights camping into the early hours in a desperate bid to find Bosnian rescue dog Zena.
The trio run a Facebook page called Bristol and Somerset Missing Dogs and were notified of the puppy's disappearance back in April.
After bolting through an open door at her new rescue home in Bristol, the terrier-cross wandered around the city before settling in Blaise Castle park.
After several confirmed sightings of the two-year-old pooch, the women distributed posters and set up night patrols in the park armed with meaty treats.
They had to fend off teenagers, drunks and foxes during their night shifts, which sometimes went on until 3am.
When a month passed without success, they started a GoFundMe page to raise £500 to buy a wildlife camera and chipped in a couple of hundred pounds of their own money towards night-vision goggles.
But after nearly four months on the run, Zena was finally captured after being enticed into the cage with a banquet of liver and garlic sausage, butcher's tripe, swedish meatballs and biscuits on Monday evening.
The troublesome pooch is now residing at a local animal rescue centre where she will remain until she is ready to be fostered again.
Shelly said: "I just can't believe we actually managed to catch her. But we wouldn't have stopped until we did.
"Because she is a rescue dog her first instinct was to bolt off. She had only been with her new foster family for two weeks.
"We all work during the day so we'd have our dinner and meet up in the evening.
"We kept getting pictures of her hanging around the River Avon. After a few weeks we were able to pin down a precise area of the park.
"We'd put on a disposable BBQ every night once the park became quiet and would do it around the same time so it would become routine for her.
"When we first started looking it was during the summer so there would be people hanging around the park being loud, which spooked her.
"That happened for a few weeks which was really frustrating. But we still stayed out just in case we spotted her.
"When we told the teenagers to go to the other side of the park we
"We actually had to put a sign down saying 'monitored cage' so we stopped being asked about it.
"The bad weather actually played in our favour as people stopped hanging around.
"The key was being as quiet as possible.
"At the beginning we were out there until 2:30-3am in the morning.
"But once we got the cameras installed we were able to watch the trap from one of our houses, as we live nearby.
"Sometimes we would have to do another late night as the WiFi router would run out.
"We had to keep topping that up every three or four days."
Image by: Shelly Spiller
Image by: Shelly Spiller
Image by: Shelly Spiller
Image by: Shelly Spiller
They set up the first trap but found it was too small for her to enter.
After testing that out for a couple of weeks, the trio made a longer
Shelly added: "We soon realised she wasn't a fan of things like fish, tuna, mackerel or anything fishy really.
"So we switched it to meats and fresh wet food.
"We didn't buy tinned goods.
"She was living like a fox so that wouldn't have been any good.
"It was quite expensive in the end. We must have spent about £500 which came out of our own pocket.
"But after we changed the food we had to look at changing the traps.
"The first one was too small and she just didn't enter it.
"We got a longer one which she did go in but it would take her forever to get to the back.
"We'd put a trail of food to the bowls but she just never went far back enough.
"That went on for five weeks before we decided to move onto a third one.
"She started weeing against it as a way of marking her territory which was a good sign.
"We would move the bowl an inch or two back everyday so she would go further back into the cage and eventually hit the footplate.
"The aim was for her to press on it which would then release the trap door and trap her in.
"But she's not silly.
"If we moved it back two or three inches she wouldn't go in because she knew it was tampered with.
"It was all about having a lot of patience.
"We were just behind the bushes when she was finally caught.
"It was basically a banquet in there. There was liver sausage, garlic sausage, butcher's tripe, Swedish meatballs, chicken meatballs and biscuits.
"As soon as the door was released we crept over as we didn't know if she was 100 per cent in there."
After successfully catching Zena, the trio carried the cage into a car before reuniting her with foster owner Denise on Monday evening.
The pooch has now returned to a local animal rescue home in the hope of building her confidence before she finds a long-term home.
Shelly said: "She's very nervous around people so it was probably too early for her to be fostered.
"There are going to be people who will say why did you spend months searching for her when she had only been with her foster family for two weeks but I just think animals shouldn't be dismissed.
"She came to England for a better life.
"It was just for the love of animals.
"In our eyes every animal deserves to be warm, fed and comfortable.
"We treated ourselves to a well-deserved pint afterwards but tomorrow we'll be onto the next one."
Video by: Shelly Spiller
