Lorry-mad four-year-old boy gets ultimate toy when his uncle builds huge remote controlled truck - he can actually ride in
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
A truck-mad four-year-old has been given the ultimate boys toy after his uncle built him a remote controlled LORRY he can ride around in.
Darren Buckler, 40, spent 12 hours over two days constructing the £600 replica of a Mercedes Actros HGV in his garage at home for nephew Hugene (corr).
The self-employed landscaper decided to build the vehicle as a Christmas present after Hugene spent five weeks in hospital with kidney disease in December.
The 24-volt battery-powered four-wheel drive lorry has a plank aluminium body and flashing safety lights and is big enough for a child to sit in and drive.
Darren says Hugene loves nothing more than travelling around his local park in the impressive toy, which has a top speed of 5mph and a battery life of over an hour.
He is now hoping to quit his job to make the models full-time after being inundated with orders when he posted a photo of the present on Facebook.
Former trucker Darren has so far made over £10,000 in less than a month selling ten lorries at £690 each and raffling five off at £15 a ticket.
The dad-of-three says there is currently a two-week waiting time on the trucks, which are 2ft wide, 4.5ft long and 4ft tall and are available in red, black, blue or white.
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Darren, who lives with partner Leanne Bradford, 37, in Walsall, West Mids., said: “Trucks have always been my hobby.
“I used to be a lorry driver. I have driven them for the last 20 years.
“I saw one of these toy lorries and thought ‘I could make a more realistic one of them' so I gave it a go for Hugene, who is my brother-in-laws son.
“It was to cheer him up really as he had just come out of Birmingham Children's Hospital with kidney disease, which is going to require further operations.
“We live in the same street and there’s a green area called the snicket where he can drive it. He absolutely loves it.
"I thought it would be a one-off but then I posted some photos of it on Facebook and I was inundated with requests for them. Its like the whole country wants one.
"I might pack my full time job in and try to set up myself as a business but at the moment I’m enjoying my hobby.
"I don't make much profit from them as they cost about £600 to build but I'm hoping to reduce the cost if I can buy the materials in bulk.
"I'm also going to raffle some off for charity as well, its not really about the money for me at the moment, I'm just enjoying making them for now.
“Everyone is interested in trucks round here so I've had a few orders locally as well as family and friends.
"But there are a lot of orders on Facebook. I can make them for kids to match their dad’s truck. I can’t build them quick enough at the moment."
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Ten-year-old boy dubbed 'human snake' because he suffers from rare skin condition - that causes him to SHED his skin every six weeks
Image by: Dinesh Dubey
These shocking photos show a ten-year-old boy who has been dubbed the 'human snake' - because a rare skin condition causes him to SHED his skin every month.
The youngster, known only as Jagannath, suffers from rare genetic skin condition lamellar ichthyosis, which causes the skin to grow too fast, dry out, and shed.
Jagannath's case is so severe that his skin sheds every four to six weeks.
He is forced to bathe every hour and smear himself with moisturiser every three hours to try to relieve the symptoms.
Shocking photos of the young boy, from the Ganjam district of eastern India, show his skin completely dried out and flaky, stretched over his body like scales.
His skin has become so tight that he is often left unable to walk properly, and needs a stick to help him stretch out his limbs.
Image by: Dinesh Dubey
Image by: Dinesh Dubey
Image by: Dinesh Dubey
Sadly, there is no cure for Jagannath's condition - and his father, Prabhakar Pradhan, who works as a labourer in a paddy field, can not afford the cost of his son's treatment.
He said: "My son has suffered this disease since childhood, and there is no cure for it.
"I do not have enough money to take him for a treatment and my heart breaks seeing him suffer with this cursed disease every day."
A dermatologist in the Indian district, who did not wish to be identified, said: "This disease is not treatable, although some doctors say there is a cure."
Dr Rakhesh, senior consultant dermatologist at Aster MIMS hospital in Kerala, India, said lamellar ichthyosis is one of the rarest congenital skin conditions.
There is currently no cure, but the condition can be treated with creams and some medications to prevent complications and improve quality of life.
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Adorable five-year-old girl with cerebral palsy beamed from ear to ear after making her first independent journey to the car - thanks to her own little staircase
Image by: Leila Jackson
An adorable five-year-old girl with cerebral palsy beamed from ear to ear after she climbed into the car unaided for the first time - thanks to her own little set of steps.
Little Lilac Jackson has spastic diplegia cerebral palsy and used to rely on walking aids to move about and had to be carried into her car seat by her mum Leila.
But Lilac amazed her family and friends when she walked into class on her first day at primary school without any help following a major operation last year.
She has now mastered another 'first' when she hoisted herself into her car seat all by herself, after her mum bought her a tiny set of stairs.
Mum-of-three Leila, 37, was "heartbroken" when Lilac actually apologised when her mum hurt her back lifted her into the car seat during the school run last week.
But they were both all smiles as Lilac left the house in Cheltenham, Glos., walked down the pavement and clambered into the car.
Leila, who also has daughter Lulu, 13, and three-year-old Leo, said: "Last week my back decided it couldn’t take much more of the constant lifting Lilac in and out of the car.
"She is a tall five-year-old and getting heavier and heavier. She actually turned to me last week and said 'I'm sorry mummy' which just broke my heart.
"So for the sake of her dignity we had to come up with a solution. I asked other parents who have disabled children and they came up with ingenious ways to make life that little bit easier.
"That's where the idea of caravan steps came into play. Any parent of a special needs kid will agree when I say all the equipment cost the earth.
"So to have a little staircase which cost £19.99 has been an absolute game changer.
"When she sits down in her seat the smile on her face says it all. She's just absolutely delighted. She went into school and was telling the teacher and members of staff of her voyage.
Image by: Leila Jackson
Image by: Leila Jackson
Image by: Leila Jackson
Image by: Leila Jackson
"It gave her such a boost she even turned the classroom door handle by herself.
"I know it's something that anyone else wouldn't think twice about but to her it takes so much strength and it's such a mark of independence.
"It was just an absolute joy to see it happen."
The heartwarming video was shot on Monday (27).
Lilac was born in Princess Royal Hospital in Bromley, south east London, in October 2014.
Leila's waters had broken at 29 weeks, but it was not until the 34th week she was induced.
Within 24 hours of her birth, Lilac was blue-lighted across the city to King's College Hospital, where she was kept on life support for five days.
Her parents raised more than £100,000 to fund an operation to help her walk, and she was filmed last year walking into school unaided on her first day of reception in September.
Leila said: "I think the next goal will be for her to get up from the floor by herself. It takes a lot of strength for her to do that.
"If she keeps progressing in the way that she is, we're hoping that there'll be no need for sticks, and they can sit in the garage and gather dust."
Video by: Leila Jackson
Mum of a girl with "purple" birthmarks bravely admitted she hid her from strangers for SIX weeks after she was born - and even used filters in photos she posted online
Image by: Tom Maddick SWNS
The mum of a girl with "purple" birthmarks bravely admitted she hid her from strangers for SIX weeks after she was born - and even used filters in photos she posted online.
Sara Farrow, 27, was scared of people seeing her newborn daughter Lacey-Dee Barrett in public because of the port-wine stain birthmark covering 90% of her body.
It was caused by the abnormal development of her blood vessels during pregnancy and protective Sara was scared people would single out her daughter.
So for the first six weeks of her life, single mum Sara covered her daughter’s bright-coloured skin and hid her away from strangers.
And when she posted photos of Lacey-Dee on Instagram, Sara said she used filters to mask the true colour of her daughter's skin.
She only changed her ways when she became worried Lacey-Dee would look back on her baby photos when she is older and asked her mum if she was embarrassed.
But even when she finally plucked up the courage, Sara claims strangers told her daughter looks “diseased” and “contagious”.
Sara, from Lincoln, said: “Until she was six weeks old I covered her up whenever we went out in public.
“As her mum obviously I am not bothered about her appearance but I was scared about what other people would think.
“When she was first born she was very red and looked bruised. I’ve had people say lots of things when we are out.
"I was scared of what people would think of me as a mum. People have said she looks diseased and have asked what’s wrong with her face.
“One person asked ‘is she allergic to the washing powder I use’ and people think there is something really wrong with her.
“She is completely unique and it’s just how she is.
“It makes her who she is and for me now it would be strange to see her without the birthmarks.
“I think she is beautiful and love how she looks”
Lacey-Dee was born at Lincoln County Hospital in April and Sara said she realised something was different straight away.
She had darker patches on her chest and doctors thought she may have been bruised.
Within hours, the birthmark appeared in full on the surface of Lacey-Dee’s skin and Sara said initially it was “hard to come to terms with”.
Image by: Tom Maddick SWNS
Image by: Tom Maddick SWNS
Image by: Sara Farrow
Image by: Sara Farrow
Image by: Tom Maddick SWNS
Former retail worker Sara said: “It was only on her chest at first and we thought it might be bruising.
“But after a couple of hours her whole body turned purple and blue.
“It was a real shock to be honest and I was really worried because doctors weren’t sure what was wrong."
She was referred to specialists and diagnosed with port wine stains in October.
Only three in every 1,000 babies are born with the condition which occurs during pregnancy, and usually only appear on one limb or area of the body.
Sara said she covered up as much of her daughter’s skin with baby blankets, long sleeved clothing or hiding her away in her buggy.
“I just thought ‘oh god’ and it was hard for me to come to terms with," she said.
“I was most worried about her face and I’m scared for her future.
"But it got to the point where I didn't want her to look back on baby photos and see I wasn't confident enough or I was embarrassed.
"I had to get brave for her sake as much as mine. I had to come to terms with it.
“I’m worried for when she goes to school. I don’t want her to be called names or to be bullied."
It comes with no other side effects and Sara said Lacey-Dee is a “very happy” baby.
But she said when she is out and about she faces having to explain her daughter's discoloration.
Sara said: “We went to the GP and a receptionist there said she should be kept in another room away from children playing in the waiting room in case she’s contagious.
“It makes me feel bad but regardless of the birthmark, it doesn’t change who she is.
“We have seen so many dermatologists and they all said this is the most extensive case of Port Wine Stains they have seen.”
Lacey-Dee will meet with specialists next month to see if she is eligible for colour-corrective treatment.
Video by: Gabriella Petty
A former criminal who turned his life around is converting an old shipping container into a makeshift house for homeless people and their pets to sleep in
Image by: JP Yorkshire Evening Post
A former criminal who turned his life around is converting an old shipping container into a makeshift house for homeless people and their pets to sleep in.
Reformed Hayden Lee Jessop, 28, spent time behind bars in 2013 after getting involved with drugs and violence as a youngster.
Having reevaluated his life, the dad-of-two is now in the process of building an amazing micro home to house homeless people trying to get off drugs.
The shelter, which will go up in Leeds, West Yorks, will provide a much-needed roof over the head of someone currently living on the street for six months.
In that period of time, Hayden says the person will detox and learn skills to help them thrive in society long term, including getting ready for the world of work.
The shelter, which is being built inside a shipping container, will also include space for the residents' pets, if they have one, Hayden added.
Hayden is planning to expand the project into a camp of eight homes for the homeless.
"The idea is to get the people living in there to help us out", he said.
"We'll get people the help they need, and in return they can repay us by helping to build more homes so we can help even more people."
Image by: JP Yorkshire Evening Post
Image by: JP Yorkshire Evening Post
Hayden said one of his friends has offered to teach catering skills to those on the rehabilitation programme to give them basic skills for work in the future.
"A lot of the people I help have never been in work... for example if they are from a criminal background and have been in and out of jail," he added.
Hayden, who runs an organisation aimed at eradicating homelessness called Vulnerable Citizen Support Leeds, spent seven weeks behind bars in 2013.
"Spending time inside changed my life, I went to jail and came out and built a business," he said.
"I was given a second chance, but a lot of young men don't get that."
In the long run Hayden hopes that the local council will get on board and refer people in need to his organisation for help.
He said: "I have spoken with the council and they seem prepared to support us with anything to help tackle our homelessness problem."
Work on the container is expected to be completed in the coming months and a resident will be invited to move in later this year.
Watch shocking moment car mounts the curb and mows down a man trying to run away sending him flying through the air
Image by: Video Contributor 45
This is the shocking moment a car mounted the curb and mowed down a man trying to run away - sending him flying through the air.
The worrying dash cam video footage shows two young men running down a pavement - closely tailed by a white car which appears to mount the kerb.
The car strikes the man - flipping him up in the air - before he skids along the road while the vehicle speeds off.
Miraculously, the stuck man scrambles to his feet, pulls up his tracksuit bottoms, and runs off out of shot, apparently uninjured.
Eye-witness Richard Smith captured the “shocking” moment on a dash cam while driving along Swanswell Street, in Coventry, at around 1.45pm on Tuesday (28).
The 46-year-old said the car involved vanished into the distance and the man who was hit ran into a nearby building.
He said: “He seemed like he was running away from the car.
“It looked like the car was chasing after him down the street.
“The car went onto the pavement and hit him. He went flying into the air.
“We were shocked - very shocked.
“I have never seen anything like it in my life.
“We heard the bang from inside my car. I thought he would be seriously hurt and it wasn’t nice to see.
“I have no idea how he managed to get back up and carry on running.”
Richard captured the dash cam footage after picking up his niece from college.
West Midlands Police has been contacted for comment.
Video by: Gabriella Petty
A woman was misdiagnosed as having mental illness - which turned out to be a brain TUMOUR the size of a tennis ball
Image by: Jon Mills
A woman was misdiagnosed as having mental illness - which turned out to be a brain TUMOUR the size of a tennis ball.
Laura Skerritt, 22, began suffering migraines, sickness and psychosis and was told her symptoms were caused by anxiety, depression - and even bi-polar disorder.
She was prescribed anti-depressants but the medication had no effect on her condition which continued to deteriorate.
By November 2018, the young swimming instructor, from Templecombe, Somerset, was struggling to walk and was having seizures.
And a scan at Yeovil District Hospital revealed devastating news for Laura and her family - she was living with a tennis ball-sized brain tumour.
Laura needed emergency surgery to prevent her potentially having a fatal stroke or seizure.
Keen horse rider Laura, who works as a swimming instructor at Wincanton Sports Centre, said: "It took over two years to get a brain tumour diagnosis so I’m keen to share my story to help raise awareness.
"It was frustrating to be told by doctors that my symptoms were caused by mental illness.
"I sensed that my health problems weren’t being caused by mental illness.
"I’m quite an emotional person and flip between happy and sad moods, but this is just part of my quirky personality," she added.
In December 2018, Laura underwent a gruelling 13-hour operation at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, which removed 80% of her low-grade tumour, a central neurocytoma - but parts of it were inoperable.
And the recovery process was not easy for her.
Laura said: "Mum and my boyfriend Harry were with me as I was wheeled into the operating room. I don’t remember anything from surgery and recovery was tough.
"I lost two stone, had to re-learn how to talk and was in constant agony because my muscles had wasted away.
"I recently suffered a major seizure and now I need a second operation followed by eight weeks of intensive radiotherapy.
"It’s going to be really hard going back into hospital but I’m hoping I make it through the treatment."
Image by: Jon Mills
Image by: Jon Mills
Image by: Jon Mills
Image by: Jon Mills
She added: "Up until my brain tumour diagnosis, I thought I was invincible.
"I never worried about my health, and my own mortality was never something that crossed my mind.
"My diagnosis changed my outlook on life. I’m not sure whether or not I want kids, for fear of them inheriting the disease or seeing me suffer with symptoms.
"My plans of moving out were put on hold. I had to give up my driving licence and, living in the middle of the Somerset countryside, with that I lost my independence," she said.
Laura is working with the charity Brain Tumour Research to raise awareness of the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40.
Mel Tiley, community fundraising manager at Brain Tumour Research in the South West, said: "We are very grateful to Laura for opening up about her brain tumour diagnosis.
"We hope that those touched by her story will donate to Brain Tumour Research.
"Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age.
"What’s more, less than 20 per cent of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years, compared with an average of 50 per cent across all cancers.
"We cannot allow this desperate situation to continue," Mel added.
Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated Centres of Excellence in the UK.
It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure.
The charity is calling for an annual spend of £35m in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia.
To donate to Brain Tumour Research go to https://www.braintumourresearch.org/donation.
LOTTA BOTTLE - One of Britain's oldest milkmen still delivering morning pints aged 85
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
One of Britain's oldest milkmen is still leaving pints on doorsteps at the age of 85 after doing the same round - for the past 70 YEARS.
Tony Moulds still gets up at 6am six-days-a-week to drop off milk to 40 households around the village he began delivering to as a 15-year-old boy in 1950.
He would take milk straight from the cow round to homes in Holcot, Northants., using a bucket and a ladle and charge customers two-and-a-half pence.
Seven decades later Tony is still doing the same round after clocking up 65,000 miles around the village and dropping off an estimated million pints of milk.
Grandfather-of-four Tony, who also delivers newspapers to all of the homes he takes milk to, says he has no plans to retire yet.
He said: "I want to keep going. It’s doing something I’ve always done and it’s become a habit.
“A lot of people have moved out of the village, but I’ve been delivering to some people for 40 years and one girl for all of my life.
“I like the company and it gets me out. I’ve never had a problem getting up in the morning.
"I’m a morning person and still fit. I get up at 5.27am, it’s just the time I set the alarm, not for any particular reason.
“I have half a cup of tea and I like to get out by 6am. If I'm not out early enough I hit all the traffic.
“I’m done by 8am and I have a couple of rounds of toast and coffee with milk. I’ve always liked full fat milk but I mostly sell semi-skimmed.
“I don’t think there’ll be newspapers in 15 years’ time because people read on the internet and on their phones.
“But my customers like glass bottles. They are buying more milk in bottles because of the problems with plastic.
“When I started I walked the couple of miles around the village with a bucket and ladle. I’d pour it into people’s jugs. It pint cost two-and-a-half pence.
“Since 1953 when milk had to be in sealed bottles I drove a van and I now sell a pint for 83p."
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Dad-of-two Tony began working on Homestead farm after leaving Northampton Grammar School before taking over milk deliveries when the farmer retired.
Tony’s wife Josephine, who died in 2014 aged 80, used to bottle milk, wash bottles and help him on the farm which he ran as a tenant until 1976.
His son Richard, 62, also used to join him on the milk round while his other son, Tim, 61, washed the bottles.
Tony, a great-grandfather-of-six, added: "They didn’t follow in my footsteps.
“Richard was in the army for 18 years and Tim had his own cladding business. Which is just as well as I don’t want to retire.
"I have always enjoyed meeting new people and knowing the people I serve but I have not always enjoyed the job in the frosty weather.
"I don't like going out at nights now but I don't really mind the mornings at all.
"When I started, we were delivering to virtually everyone in Holcot.
"But now some of the older people have died and the younger wives work and drive and can call in for milk anywhere these days so they don't need my services as much.
"This village is my life. It would be interesting to know if anyone has delivered milk and papers for as long as me."
Pat McGlasson has lived in the village for 40 years and said Tony is always at her door before 7am each day with her daily newspaper.
She said: "Come rain or shine, snow or sleet he delivers the papers and milk every single day.
"He is a unique man, he is very modest and does not blow his own trumpet. He is very aware of the older people in the village and is a real community person.
"What you see is what you get. He is highly thought of and is held in such high esteem by everybody."
Video by: Gabriella Petty
A pair of kind-hearted councillors are spending their free time trying to combat loneliness by setting up a 'chat bench' where strangers can pop by for a natter
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
A pair of kind-hearted councillors are spending their free time trying to combat loneliness by setting up a 'chat bench' where strangers can pop by for a natter.
Lib Dem councillors Martin McCabe and Bob Smytherman are trying to start encouraging strangers to speak to each other to combat isolation.
They have set up their first 'Happy to Chat' bench in their home of Worthing, West Sussex, after copying the scheme that has seen them pop up all over the world, including Canada, the United States, Australia and Switzerland.
Martin said: "The chat benches has been popping up all around England and Wales.
"In Worthing we have a diverse population but we have a large ageing sector. Quite a lot of elderly people are isolated and it's an issue.
"We've spoken to someone who does events at Age UK. She said some of their members go a whole month without speaking to someone. The only chance they have is when they come to these events.
"There is a very real need for these chat benches. And the cost is tiny."
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Martin added: “Chat Benches are a simple idea that can encourage us to break down barriers and say hello. Loneliness is one of the biggest problems we have in society.“
"There are people out there who feel invisible. And our British reserve can sometimes get in the way. I think this is a nice way of letting people know you’re open to a chat."
With a whiteboard and pen, the two men have started going around the seaside town to turn ordinary benches into places of conversation.
The two councillors hope for the executive bench to make a decision on more permanent chat benches in early March.
He added: “We’ve been setting up our makeshift Chat Bench around Worthing and the response has been great. People love the idea and taken to it like a duck to water.
“We hope all councillors support us and that Chat Benches come to Worthing.”
In the UK, more than a million older people say they always or often feel lonely, according to Age UK.
A review found 17 per cent of older people talk to family, friends or neighbours less than once a week.
Loneliness is also a greater health threat than obesity, according to a major study released in 2017.
Transgender soldier who served in Iraq and Afghanistan swaps her combats for dresses as she takes the modelling world by storm
Image by: Andi Hailley
A soldier who served in the army for 30 years has swapped her combats for dresses -- after coming out as transgender.
Andrea Halliley, 52, was born as Andrew but hid her feelings for most of her life - even keeping her emotions secret from her wife and three children.
Serving in the military, she would wear combats in the day before sneaking to her room at night to get changed into women's clothes she'd bought from nearby shops.
She revealed her true identity when she retired from her career as an infantry soldier in February 2015, bravely confessing to her family and later splitting from her wife.
Now living openly as a transgender woman in Crook, Durham, she likes to be known as Andi and works as a delivery driver.
She has even been signed up with a modelling agency.
Andi said: "When I first came out to my (now ex) wife, I told her I was a cross dresser - I had never heard of the term 'transgender' before.
"My ex wife did some research and told me about transgender people, and it was like a lightbulb moment, we both knew that's what I really was.
"We have split up since but on amicable terms, it's just that she didn't marry a woman and that's fine, I don't hold any bad feelings towards her or anything.
"I still see our two teenage children every other weekend, they've been brilliant with my change and I have an older daughter from a previous relationship who has been fab as well.
"After telling my family, it was time to tell other people like my friends and old colleagues, and although I was nervous, I've actually had hardly any negative feedback."
Andi said she has known she was different since she was a child and liked to dress up in her mother's clothes and jewellery from five years old.
But growing up in Saddleworth in the 70s, Andi felt that coming out was not an option.
She said: "Initially I didn't think there was anything wrong, but as I grew older, I became aware of societal norms.
"I think there was a certain amount of embarrassment and a lot of confusion.
"I didn't hope it would go away because it felt right, but I did bury my feelings."
She joined the military in 1985 and served in the infantry for the next 30 years, rising to the rank of Colour Sergeant, touring in Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Iraq.
Despite Andi forming close friendships with her military colleagues, nobody knew that she identified as a woman.
Andi had been aware that she identified as a female ever since she was little, but suppressed how she felt.
It wasn't until she had left the military that she bravely ventured outside as a female, visiting a trans event in Cardiff in October 2015, and the experience confirmed what she had known for so long yet.
Andi said: "The military is very macho, especially in the infantry.
"I think I was trying to prove I was macho as well, but it was very difficult living a secret life in such an overtly male environment.
"It was difficult living with your own secret war inside your head."
Feeling most like her true self when dressed in women's clothes, Andi devised a secret routine that would allow her to live as a female when off duty.
Andi said: "Any dressing I did at that time had to be very secret.
"I'd buy women's clothes in the town of wherever we were stationed at the time and smuggle it back into my room without anyone seeing.
"After the work I needed to do had been done for the day, I'd lock myself in my room and get dressed into the clothes I'd bought in secret.
"I wouldn't put make up on or anything at that time, but just putting on more feminine clothes made me feel more comfortable.
"I was always worried that someone would knock and discover my secret, but thankfully, that never happened."
Image by: Andi Hailley
Image by: Andi Hailley
Image by: Andi Hailley
Image by: Andi Hailley
Image by: Andi Hailley
Andi retired from the Army in 2015, and several months later, she decided it was time to come out so that she could live openly as a transgender woman.
The first person Andi came out to was her wife who was shocked and initially felt angry and betrayed, but after doing research into transgender people, she grew supportive of Andi being out as transgender.
They discussed staying together but decided it was not a viable option and split amicably.
She told her family first before sharing the news with friends, including fellow soldiers that she had grown close to over the three decades that she had been serving for.
Andi said: "It was nerve wracking coming out to the guys from the Infantry, as it is such a macho male environment.
"Incredibly, a lot of my old colleagues were supportive of me being transgender.
"The general response was if it makes you happy, then go for it.
"Regardless of their reaction, I wasn't going to hide who I am any more, but it was nice to have that support and acceptance."
Andi got a job as a delivery driver and is currently in the middle of the lengthy NHS process to be helped by a gender identity clinic.
Her GP referred her to the NHS gender identity service in Leeds in September 2016 but is still waiting for her first appointment at a gender identity clinic and has been informed it will be in February or March 2020 at the latest.
Andi's struggle with waiting to receive help from the NHS has not stopped her from embracing her feminine identity and she lives openly as a transgender woman.
She was at an alternative burlesque show in May 2017 with friends when she got chatting to a woman who suggested Andi audition for The Alternative Model of the Year Contest.
Andi entered the competition for the first time in 2017, and has made it to the catwalk final of the contest for the past three years in a row.
She fell in love with the modelling world and after taking part in multiple photoshoots, Andi was signed by the agency Rogue Model Management.
Andi said: "It is amazing to think how much my life has changed since leaving the Army and embracing being transgender.
"Five years ago, I was wearing combats everyday, pretending to be this big macho man all day before secretly hiding in my room wearing girly clothes in fear.
"Now, I'm strutting down runways in feminine clothes and posing for cameras as a proud transgender woman.
"I have no regrets over joining the military, it was an important time in my life, but I do regret wasting so much time not being me.
"I'm just so happy I finally decided to come out and show people the real me, and I'll never hide that side of me ever again."
