Prisoners in smell block H
The toilet was installed by Transport for London for bus drivers caught short in the area, but locals are furious about the stone-grey building.
Local politicians in a leafy suburb have joined the fight against the "arrogant" plonking of a toilet block resembling a Dr Who Tardis on a residential street.
The toilet was installed by Transport for London for bus drivers caught short in the area, but locals are furious about the stone-grey building.
Hundreds of objectors have signed a petition against the private, driver-only toilet, known by fuming locals as 'the Turdis', in Biggin Hill, south east London.
Residents say they were given no warning about the permanent portaloo - and now local councillors have pitched in on the row.
There are now three of these bogs in Bromley, with others in Petts Wood and St Mary Cray.
The Biggin Hill bog has already had its window smashed, but neighbours claimed it was a bird.
Speaking last night (Tues), executive environment councillor William Huntington-Thresher said he was calling on TfL to lose the loo as soon as possible.
He said: “It appears TfL intended to notify residents but this did not happen,.
“It is disappointing TfL did not consult residents, and it is also disappointing TfL did not attempt to locate toilets that can be used by a number of bus routes.
“They clearly decided to install these with minimum effort on their part.
“I would agree with residents the location is entirely unsuitable and call upon TfL to remove it as soon as possible.”
The toilets were installed by TfL using its permitted development rights, meaning the authority could only object on the grounds of highway safety.
These rights have only been used previously for bus shelters, and the council is exploring whether it does extend to toilets.
Biggin Hill councillor Julian Benington said: “It is a monstrosity.
"The need for a toilet there is certainly questionable.
"I would like to ask the portfolio holder to ensure this toilet is removed as soon as possible – we don’t want it hanging around until Christmas and the new year.”
Petts Wood councillor Simon Fawthrop said TfL was acting “as though it can do whatever it likes” by placing a toilet in a special conservation area in his ward.
TfL has already apologised for the communication breakdown and is investigating how letters failed to reach Biggin Hill residents, and said it was meeting with neighbours to discuss the site’s feasibility.
Nick Fairholme, a director at TfL, said: “We are sorry that we did not inform all residents of our plans to install a toilet for bus drivers in Biggin Hill.
“We try to be mindful of residents when we install these important facilities but understand that there are concerns about this location.
“We have offered to meet the local community to explore the feasibility of a more suitable location, or if that is not possible to see if any changes can be made to the existing facility.”
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Seven-year-old girl with incredibly rare birthmark set to feature in international exhibition
Image by: Adam Harnett
A seven-year-old girl born with a large birthmark on her face is featuring in an international exhibition with a message to 'love the skin you are in'.
Rosabella Harrison attracted the attention of world-renowned fashion photographer Brock Elbank after she was chosen to be the face of the charity Caring Matters Now.
The organisation provides support for those affected by Congenital Melanocytic Naevi (CMN) - a rare type of birthmark affecting one per cent of infants worldwide.
A photo shoot for the charity in September perfectly captured Rosabella's enchanting personality, which in turn grabbed the eye of photographer Elbank.
She will now appear in his "How do you C Me Now" exhibition in March, which celebrates the lives affected by the condition and is set to travel the world.
The youngster, from Beccles, Norfolk, was born with CMN which appears in less than one in 20,000 newborns in the UK.
However, Rosabella is particularly unique as her birthmark's placement and composition are both very rare.
Image by: Adam Harnett
Image by: Adam Harnett
Her mother, Chantelle Harrison, 29, said: "It's incredibly rare. People normally have the birthmarks somewhere on their body but not normally on the face.
"We're just little people - things like this don't normally happen to us. But Rosabella loves it - any excuse to be in the lime light. It's lovely."
The condition is not just cosmetic and also poses the risk of future neurological problems and melanoma.d Rosabella returns to hospital once a year for tests.
Elbank partnered with CMN - the only UK charity dedicated to those affected by the condition - to celebrate beauty that is more than skin deep.
The London-based fashion photographer is best known for his captivating series of 150 portraits of individuals with freckles - which captured their beauty and uniqueness.
His latest exhibition uses images of adults and children of all ages affected by CMN, representing 13 countries from five continents.
The exhibition title encourages the audience to consider their current perceptions of individuals affected by a visible difference.
The "How Do you C Me Now" exhibition will open at Oxo Tower Wharf on London’s South Bank on March 14 for two weeks before travelling around the world.
Speaking about Elbank, Chantelle said: "He's absolutely fantastic. He really makes you feel at home. We had breakfast made for us.
"He managed to get what we wanted and what he wanted. He really captured her personality."
Rosabella's mother also praised Lowestoft’s Picture Studios who took the original press shots for the charity and have been a great support for the family.
Image by: Adam Harnett
Image by: Adam Harnett
A Caring Matters Now spokesman said: "The aim of the exhibition series is to give a clear message to the world – love the skin you are in.
"We want this beautiful series of images to reduce the public’s negative perceptions of visible differences."
Rosabella, who lives on a farm with her mum, is also an accomplished horse rider and is part of the dressage and show jumping team at her school - and has her own pony, Rosie.
Chantelle said: "Rosabella has been riding all her life because we live on a farm and she is part of the dressage team at school.
"She has only just turned seven and that is a massive achievement for her.
"She was part of the Beccles Royales Gymnastic Club too and plays piano, guitar and ukulele.
"She just wants to try anything that is going on - she is so fearless and is just good at everything she turns her hand to.
"She is going to do an amazing things."
Pensioner saved after sinking up to his NECK in manure
Video by: Simon Maudlin 
Image by: Simon Maudlin
This is the moment firefighters saved a dog walker who was trying to rescue his pet and got stuck up to his neck - in MANURE.
Brian Marshall, 75, waded into the massive slurry pit to retrieve his Jack Russell Archie but soon found himself sinking.
Luckily his desperate calls for help were answered by fellow dog owner Matt Hollick, who heard faint calls as he left a nearby veterinary clinic.
He raised the alarm and firefighters arrived just as Brian's head began to sink into the stinking pile of waste.
“I’d given up trying to get out on my own," said Brian. "I felt like I was digging my own grave.
“I was gradually giving up and didn’t think I was going to make it.”
The drama began as Brian enjoyed a walk near Upper Caldecote, Beds., on Sunday (17/02) with Archie and his other dog Bella.
He said he had no choice but to go in after his pet.
“Using the Duke of Edinburgh’s words, 'I had been a bloody fool, and there was no one but me to blame'," he said.
"However to see the death by drowning of your loyal and trusted pet dog in front of your very eyes was not an option for me."
Trapped in the sludge, he began shouting for help and the wind carried his voice towards nearby Elizabeth Smith Veterinary Practice.
Luckily Mr Hollick heard his pleas as he loaded his dog into his car after an appointment.
Writing on social media, he said: "It's not everyday you take your dog to the vets as it ate raisins, to emerge having saved a guy's life in a farmers field.
"I was placing the dog in the car and taking after care advice with the vet.
"I could hear a faint cry for help which was being carried on the wind which was blowing in my direction.
"Three more calls of help later and I took off to investigate.
"I was greeted by an enormous muck slurry pit with a man stuck in the middle and sinking below the surface.
"I provided some initial advice to stabilise his position and used his dog leads and dog to reduce his decline."
Image by: Adam Harnett
Brian had been stuck for nearly an hour by the time crews from Sandy and Kempston Community Fire Stations and HART Ambulance reached him.
They used an inflatable hose, inflatable rescue paths and dry suits to pull him out of the pit.
He was then rushed to Bedford Hospital to be treated for hypothermia.
Brian from Ickwell, Beds., is full of praise for the actions of Mr Hollick.
“He masterminded it all," he said. "He called the emergency services and as I was sinking fast he told me to keep my arms up.
"The more I moved the worse it became."
“The fire crews were absolutely awesome. They went into the muck themselves to put a hoist round me.
“I and our two dogs Bella and Archie are so fortunate to all be alive and well.
"The Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service, the Ambulance crew, Bedford Hospital A&E, the police and so many others who were involved.
"Thank you one and all and for those who have phoned and sent messages. It is quite overwhelming.
“Thank you all so very much. Humanity can be very cruel at times but on this occasion nothing but kindness can be described.
"My long suffering wife Christine is busy manuring the garden as she sorts out all my clothes.”
A neighbouring farmer, Simon Maudlin, who had been called by the residents of nearby houses after hearing the cries, said: “Brian Marshall was a very lucky man.
"The wind carried his voice across a large open field towards Elizabeth Smiths Vets and the residential property.
"No wonder the area is called Windy ridge and it carried his voice of distress towards the buildings.”
The veterinary surgery also gave dogs Archie and Bella a clean bill of health.
A spokeswoman for the fire service said: "If you ever find yourself in a position where a pet or other animal is caught in water, mud or in this case a muck heap - please call 999 immediately for advice before getting yourself in to a situation where you are unable to tell emergency services where you are or more seriously putting your life in danger."
Image by: Adam Harnett
Image by: Adam Harnett
Speaking today (wed), Brian Marshall said it was his 16-year-old white Jack Russell Bella who had got stuck in the slurry, while Archie watched on.
The former owner of a horticultural business and his 68-year-old wife Christine have owned Bella since she was a newborn puppy.
Mr Marshall said the lucky dog was recovering well, adding: "She's absolutely fine. She's almost back to wanting her two-hour walk a day."
Asked what his wife said when she heard of the incident, Brian replied: "She said, 'Where's that lovely jumper that I knitted you?'
"She had knitted me this lovely blue jumper and they [the rescuers] had to cut it off me."
Describing the ordeal, he said: "I don't know how Bella go in that far but she just did. I looked round and she was howling her eyes out.
"I couldn't bear to see her drown. It was a silly thing to do. It was mad.
"I went in upright. I was getting further and further into the muck but in the process of pulling her out, it sent me onto my back."
He added: "I will live to fight another day when I thought there would be an early funeral round a manure heap."
Stunned teen wakes up from coma to find she’d had a BABY!
Image by: Steve Chatterley
A teenager went to bed with a headache, fell into a coma and woke up four days later - after unknowingly giving birth to a surprise baby.
Ebony Stevenson, 18, had no idea she was pregnant, and after going to bed feeling unwell on December 2, 2018, she was rushed to hospital and placed in an induced coma before waking up on December 6 having had a baby girl.
The college student - who studies Sports Physiotherapy - hadn't developed a bump, experienced no morning sickness and had not missed a period.
She had no idea she was expecting as her unborn baby was hidden in one of two uteruses, in a condition called uterus didelphys.
The condition, thought to affect one in 3,000 women, means those affected are born with two uteruses.
In Ebony’s case, only one of them had a fallopian tube to carry an egg, while the other had none – meaning her chances of conception should have been slim.
After suffering a series of seizures on December 2, Ebony was rushed to Royal Oldham Hospital, Greater Manchester, and placed in an induced coma.
Medics performed tests and discovered Ebony had suffered from preeclampsia which had caused the seizures, and she was pregnant.
They told her mum immediately and said that the baby needed to be delivered right away.
She underwent an emergency caesarean on Monday 3 December and gave birth to a baby girl at 1.32am who weighed 7lbs 10ozs - just over three hours after the first fit.
Ebony woke on December 6 to discover she had given birth and was suddenly a mum.
She has now got her head around the news and is enjoying bonding with her daughter, who she has named Elodie.
The first time mum, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, said: "I didn't think I even wanted kids, at least not for another 10 years and never expected to be a young mum.
"Waking up from a coma to be told I had been pregnant and had given birth to a baby girl was overwhelming to say the least.
"Meeting my baby was so surreal. It felt like an out of body experience.
"I worried I wouldn't bond with my daughter because I had no time to get my head around her arrival, but I think she's amazing.
"It's an absolute miracle. I wouldn't change Elodie for the world."
Ebony had thought she was just unwell when she went to bed at 8.30pm on Sunday 2 December, complaining of a headache.
She doesn’t remember anything from then until waking up four days later - suddenly a mum.
Thankfully her mum, Sheree, 39, a stay-at-home mum-of-five, has been able to fill in the blanks.
Sheree said: “At around 10pm that night I heard Ebony shout down to me that her headache had gotten really bad.
“She started being sick so I rushed her into the bathroom and before I knew it she was having a seizure on the bathroom floor.
“I rang 999 immediately as she’d never had anything like this before.”
In the five minutes it took the ambulance to arrive, Ebony had five more seizures.
When paramedics treated Elodie they asked if she was pregnant.
“Despite me insisting she couldn’t be pregnant, the paramedics were certain she was, and to my shock a bump had appeared at her stomach,” Sheree said.
“They think the ferocity of the seizures could have caused the baby to move, making it suddenly visible.”
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Ebony Stevenson
Image by: Ebony Stevenson
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Ebony was rushed to Royal Oldham Hospital, near Manchester, where she was sedated before being rushed for an emergency caesarean that same morning.
Proud grandmother Sheree was the first to hold the surprise baby, who was born weighing 7lbs 10oz.
“It was a strange moment because I had no time to prepare for it,” Sheree said.
“I was over the moon that she was happy and healthy, but couldn’t help but worry about my own little girl who remained in a coma.”
For the next four days, Ebony was in an induced coma while Sheree and her mum – Ebony’s grandmother, Geraldine, 56 – stayed by her side, all the whilst looking after the little baby girl – who was later named Elodie.
On December 6, Ebony finally opened her eyes, and it was only then that she learnt she had two uterus’ – one of which was continuing to menstruate and the other which was growing her baby girl.
“When I woke up I remember the nurses telling me I had a baby, and before I knew it they’d put her on my chest,” said Elodie.
“It sounds awful now, but I asked them to take her away as I was so confused and sure they’d made a mistake.
“But my mum explained it all to me while the nurses were there and they gave my little girl back to me to hold properly for the first time.
“Although I was so confused – and pretty scared – it was a beautiful moment and she was so quiet.”
Due to the weight of her little girl, doctors suggest that Ebony carried her to full term, which is astonishing considering she had no idea.
This was made possible by the fact she has two uteruses - one is positioned towards her back so the pregnancy went unnoticed.
Neither Ebony nor her mum had any idea that she had two uteruses, but this allowed her to continue having regular periods throughout the pregnancy, disguising it even more.
“The doctors said that Elodie was a miracle baby, as women with her condition often struggle to conceive or carry to full-term,” Sheree said.
Both mum and baby remained in intensive care until finally being allowed home on December 13, where little Elodie was introduced to her uncles and aunts – Kennedy, 12, Poppy, eight, Pia, three and Navy, two.
“Ebony has taken to being a mum so well, she’s a natural,” Sheree added.
“And little Elodie is an absolute beauty – we couldn’t love her more if we tried.”
Ebony plans to go back to Hopwood College, Middleton – where she’s studying Sports Physiotherapy – in February, and mum Sheree will help take care of the baby.
“Although I had no time to prepare, I wouldn’t change what’s happened for the world,” said Ebony.
“I’m so excited to wake up and see her every morning, and to get to spend another day with my precious little miracle.”
Image by: Steve Chatterley
World-famous 'French Spiderman' free-climbs 475-foot tower in just 25 minutes
Image by: Adam Lockwood
This astonishing video shows a world-famous free-climber, known as 'The French Spiderman', scale the side of a 475-foot tall building in just 25 minutes.
Alain Robert, 57, is famous for his free solo climbing, scaling skyscrapers using no climbing equipment except for a small bag of chalk and his climbing shoes.
The daredevil has climbed a whopping 165 buildings without a safety cord, including the 1,000-foot tall Eiffel Tower in Paris, and Dubai's Burj Khalifah, which stands at a whopping 2,700 feet tall.
And on Wednesday, 24/03/20, Alain was spotted scaling the Agbar Tower in Barcelona, Spain, which stands 475-foot tall (144 metres).
It took the Frenchman just 25 minutes to make it up the building and back down again - watched and filmed by his friend and fellow free-climber Adam Lockwood, 18.
Adam, from Manchester, is also currently in Barcelona to free-climb, and he supported Alain from the roof of a neighbouring building, The Arts Hotel - Barcelona's tallest building, at 505 feet tall.
Image by: Adam Lockwood
Image by: Adam Lockwood
Image by: Adam Lockwood
Adam said: "I knew Alain was here and was going to climb the Agbar Tower, so I climbed to the top of The Arts Hotel last night [Tues] and slept on the roof to watch him.
"It took him about 25 minutes to go up and back down again. When he got back down he got put in the back of an ambulance, and then driven off in a police car.
"Last time he did this he got escorted out the country. I don't know if that's going to happen again now."
Adam added that he has known Alain for about a year - but that Alain has been free-climbing "all his life".
It was the Frenchman's fourth time climbing the Agbar Tower - having previously scaled the 38-storey building in 2006, 2007, and 2016.
Mysterious face has appeared in a cliff following a landslide - and locals claim it could be the head of a mythical GIANT that stalked the area
A mysterious face has appeared in a cliff following a landslide - and locals claim it could be the head of a mythical GIANT that stalked the area.
Louise Coe, 45, was walking the coast path at Bedruthan Steps when she noticed a pair of eyes and a nose staring back at her.
NHS worker Louise and her husband walk the route near Padstow in Cornwall regularly but had not been recently - due to recent landslides that closed the steps.
She suspects the face was caused by the landslides - creating a remarkably detailed carving of a face.
The 'steps' are a natural rock formation said to have been created when the 'Bedruthan Giant' used them as stepping stones to cross the bay.
Some locals have even claimed the face could be that of the mythical giant.
Louise said: "My partner and I were just out walking with the dog when we spotted it.
"We're National Trust members so we quite often walk along the coast near the Bedruthan Steps.
"There had been some rock falls recently we think, but suddenly my partner and I just noticed that the rock face looked like a face looking out to sea.
"The steps are actually closed at the moment because of rock falls, so it might be a new formation - it looks very different.''
Dangerous landslides have been reported there both in December 2019 and on New Year's Day 2021.
Former Tory Minister Rory Stewart claims Boris Johnson is leaking negative stories about Rishi Sunak - because he feels threatened by him
Former Conservative Minister Rory Stewart claims Boris Johnson is leaking negative stories about Rishi Sunak - because he feels threatened by him.
Stewart, 49, a former Tory leadership contender, says the PM is ''probably quite enjoying'' the criticism aimed at the Chancellor and his wife.
Stewart says Sunak is aware the recent ''smear campaign'' is not just from journalists - and ''No.10 is feeding quite a lot of this''.
He says ''it's perfectly possible that people inside No.10 are quite enjoying dripping this stuff through''.
Stewart was speaking on Alastair Campbell's 'The Rest Is Politics' podcast.
He said: "My guess is Boris Johnson is probably quite enjoying this.
I think he feels threatened by Rishi Sunak.
"Rishi was the big challenger to him, and I think when Rishi Sunak is saying it's a bit of a smear campaign, he's not just talking about journalists going after him.
"I think he suspects that No.10 is feeding quite a lot of this.
"I think it's perfectly possible that people inside No.10 are quite enjoying dripping this stuff through.
"Suggesting he's going off on holiday in California, when he probably isn't...
"Drawing people's attentions to questions they might ask about his tax, asking about the green card etc.
"Because I think apart from Rishi Sunak it's difficult to see who really is in a position to challenge Boris Johnson."
Sunak's wife has been slammed for her 'non-domicile' status in the UK.
Both Sunak and Murty have also been criticized for holding US green cards.
Sunak studied at University in California but is a British citizen and was born in the UK.
Stewart added: "Rishi Sunak, I'm not particularly fond of. He's not a guy I particularly got on with while I was in Parliament.
"But I do feel there is something very very disturbing about this sort of political life and what it means psychologically.
"He now in an instant has found his wife under attack, he's basically being accused of being a liar and a criminal when from his point of view he hasn't broken any law at all.
"I was saying to a friend that I felt sorry for him, and my friend just laughed and said that they were enjoying this enormously.
"But obviously as a former politician, I don't enjoy watching this happen to anyone, Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem.
"It's one of the reasons we don't end up with good politicians."
The podcast is here: https://play.acast.com/s/the-rest-is-politics/
