100s feared dead as massive 6.2 magnitude earthquake devastates China
By Safia Azizi
More than 120 people have been killed - and hundreds more injured and homeless - in north-west China in the country's deadliest earthquake in 13 years.
The 6.2 magnitude earthquake that hit the mountainous Gansu province was so severe it rocked neighbouring Qinghai.
China's President Xi Jinping ordered thousands of rescue crew to the region amid fears fatalities may rise in the freezing temperatures.
Entire villages were split by the quake, leaving collapsed buildings and houses in its wake.
Victims left homeless were seen huddling over makeshift fires at hastily erected evacuation camps as temperatures hit -13C (8.7F).
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Oh yes he did! Panto star's surprise on stage proposal
(Pix: Christopher Bowen / Beacon Arts Centre / SWNS)
Oh yes he did! A pantomime star was left shocked after his boyfriend surprised him on-stage - with a wedding proposal.
Lee Samuel, 37, was performing as Boabby Blumenthal in Beauty and the Beast when his boyfriend Lee Johnston, 30, suddenly walked on stage.
Mr Johnston then got down on one knee and popped the question to his boyfriend of two years in front of a cheering crowd.
Mr Samuel said: "I didn't really know what was going on and we had taken our final bow all the audience were cheering.
"My colleague then stood forward and said we had a special moment for a special person, but I looked at him and was like 'what are you doing?'
"Then he pointed to the right of the stage and from the wings, out came my then-boyfriend and now fiancé.
"He was introduced and got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.
"The whole crowd just stood up. It was the best feeling and it was a sold out weekend so it was absolutely amazing.
"It couldn't have been a more magical moment. I was stunned and I was speechless for the first time in my life."
Mr Johnston said he wanted the proposal 'to be special' which is why he decided to do it at the Beacon Arts Centre in Glasgow.
The social worker said: "I wanted the proposal to be special and to take him completely off guard.
"Being on stage and doing panto is what he was born to do and I decided to do it there because he loves it so much.
"When I first met him, I was in awe that he was an actor."
Mr Samuel didn't know that his future husband was at the performance on Sunday (December 10) until he walked out on stage.
Their family and friends were also watching the show in the audience and waiting for the proposal but hid from Mr Samuel so he didn't see them while he was performing.
But he said he's happy they got engaged at the venue because it has a 'very special place in his heart.'
He said: "I usually find out everything - I'm usually the one that's in on the surprises and the one that's in on the jokes.
"I had no clue - everyone knew apart from me.
"I don't even know how people were able to keep it a secret.
"I'm always talking to the boys and girls in the audience and I just didn't see anybody.
"I can spot some people but because the stage lights are so bright, the audience are in the dark and you can't really see them.
"But I'm so surprised that I didn't spot any of them.
"Panto has a very special place in my heart and the venue has a very special place in my heart as I've done panto every year.
"I'm a comedy actor so I do panto and children's theatre.
"He just knows how special it is to me so he thought it would be a really, really magical moment."
Mr Samuel said it was 'love at first sight' when the couple, who first met two-and-a-half years ago.
But he added that he doesn't want a pantomime-themed wedding and instead wants something 'completely different.'
The actor said: "We had a first date and we were chatting about the future and we were both really on the same page.
"It was love at first sight and we just got each other from the get go.
"It's like we've met each other's soulmates, it's fabulous.
"I'm doing panto until New Year's Eve and with the madness of Christmas, we'll have to start making plans for a wedding in the new year.
"Because panto is what I love and what I do as a job, I think the wedding has to be something that's completely different.
"The engagement was a really special moment to happen in a really magical place but we have to do something bigger and better."
Early Christmas present? £3m F1 Grand Prix winning car for sale
How's this for the ultimate car fan's Christmas present?
A F1 Grand Prix-winning race car that beat Ayrton Senna is up for sale.
Driven to victory in the 1990 Hungarian Grand Prix by Belgian Thierry Boutsen, the prestige motor is expected to go for over £3m.
The Williams-Renault FW13B is owned by a private collector and is being offered in a sale by UK-based Collecting Cars.
The vehicle, meticulously restored by Williams Heritage, boasts an impressive F1 track record from 1990: triumphing over Senna in Hungary, securing second place in Britain, as well as achieving fourth positions in both Monaco and Spain.
Collecting Cars say: "The iconic cars of this era are now rightly considered ‘works of art’ in their own right, with many adorning the walls and collections of their drivers and other passionate fans worldwide, as a nostalgic celebration of one of the golden ages of the sport – and this car is even more exceptional given it is in fully working condition. This Grand Prix winning car represents an incredibly rare chance to join that small group of collectors."
Despite being offered for sale by a private collector, Collecting Cars notes that this FW13B has solely been raced, demonstrated, and maintained by Williams Grand Prix Engineering.
Collecting Cars say: "It remains a fully working Formula One Grand Prix winner, accompanied by all required pit equipment and a spare set of wheels, and also provides access to the Williams Heritage F1 program.
"Unlike so many racers that inevitably end up being worked on outside of the team factory, possibly modified or changed beyond original specifications, this car boasts exceptional and unquestionable provenance."
A spokesperson for the company says: "I would estimate this could sell in the region of £3 million considering its Grand Prix winning status and fully restored condition."
Two male bears brutally battle over mating rights
A group of tourists were left ‘distressed’ as two grizzly bears brutally battled over mating rights mere metres away from their boat.
Vanessa Obran and her husband John were on a tour of a bay in British Columbia, Canada, when they spotted two bears mating on the shore.
Dramatic footage captured the moment a jealous male sprinted across the shale and tackled one of the mating pair and pinned it to the ground.
In an epic 17 minute encounter, the two testosterone-fuelled bears tore chunks of flesh off each other with their teeth and paws, and even took their fight into the water.
Vanessa, from Australia, said: “While filming, the violence made me feel physically sick to the stomach.
“I love bears so much and the violence was so hard to watch. There are parts of the video that I don’t watch now as it is distressing.
“One minute we were watching a tranquil scene of two bears mating on the beach. We thought how lovely, that is something you don’t see very often. Then all hell broke loose.
“They were fighting over mating rights. Both bears had a lot of injuries, cuts and bites. They were about 8ft tall on their hind legs.
“I had filmed a bear fight before in Alaska but it was only a few swipes. Nothing as brutal as this.
“Having said that, I knew what a rare occurrence this was to witness and I feel so lucky to have been there at the right time and right place.
“To see them fight for so long is nearly unheard of. Wildlife guides we have since spoken to, who have been watching bears for 30 years, have never seen anything like it.
"We made our first trip to Yellowstone National Park in 2012 where we saw our first wild grizzly bear. We were hooked.
“Since then we go to the US and Canada every two years and spend up to three months going to the National Parks to see bears, moose, wolves. Any animal at all we are happy to spot.
“It becomes an addiction. It is so thrilling to spot an animal in the wild.”
Dad 'creeped out' after spotting face of Grinch in Christmas tree
A dad was given the creeps when he spotted a Grinch lookalike in the trunk of his Christmas tree.
Daniel Martyn, 39, couldn't believe his eyes when he unwrapped his new 9ft tree only to discover a pair of eyes staring back at him.
Stunned Daniel called in his daughter, six, to have a look - leaving her so scared that she ran into the kitchen.
Fortunately, the 'creepy' face has now become a welcome addition and Daniel and his partner even plan to give it some decorations of its own.
Initially, Daniel thought it looked a bit like the Grinch - with the chipped wood reminiscent of the mean-tempered character's smile.
Daniel, an IT project manager from Gravesend, Kent, said: "I thought it looked like it had a kind face so it's not going to cause us any mischief but my daughter wanted me to cover it up at first - she even ran into the kitchen!
"I can definitely see the Grinch in it - if you stare at it long enough you see a nose as well!
"But I don't stare at it for too long as it gives me the creeps!
"When I first saw it I thought someone had drawn it on - It's just the luck of the draw with the tree I assume.
"Either way, we'll have to learn to love it as it's too late to be getting another tree so we've decided to call it Kris after Kris Kringle."
Daniel bought the tree from someone at his local pub.
He said: "I went to meet him and when I got home and opened it up and just as I looked down I saw this strange pair of eyes looking at me."
Daniel says his mother, Amanda, 61, suggested the face could be a loved one sent to watch over the family.
He said: "I spoke to my mother and as my grandfather has just recently passed, she said it's him being sent to watch over us."
With the decorating yet to be complete, Daniel says he hopes they can "do Kris proud".
He added: "I've left the decorating to my partner, Natasha, 49, now but I'm sure she'll make it look good.
"I think we're going to try and give him something to wear - my daughter wants to put sunglasses on him!"
Driver battles through 150mph tornado in Tennessee
This is the incredible dash-cam moment a man battled through a deadly tornado in his car.
Cameron McNeil, 25, said his car was "totally totaled" when he was caught up in the storm in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Saturday.
Dashcam from his vehicle shows lightning, telegraph poles bending, debris flying - and then the windscreen cracking - but Cameron still keeps driving.
He added: " In the video you can see transformers blowing up and my windshield getting cracked and things going everywhere."
Six people - including two children - died when a series of tornadoes with winds up to 150mph ravaged Tennessee and Kentucky.
Homes were destroyed and tens of thousands of people were left without power after poles were snapped.
Bird poop-covered classic Corvette sells for more than double estimate
A bird poop-covered classic car has sold for more than double its estimate.
The 1966 Chevrolet Corvette C2 Stingray is believed to have been stored in a barn for years.
The dusty model was expected to make £25-£30k, but sold for £68,625 in a Warwickshire auction.
Classic Car Auctions (CCA) say: "This Corvette C2 Stingray’s bones were still in good enough shape for it to attract bidding that took it to more than twice its estimate."
The previous owner remains anonymous, but CCA say: "Definitely a farm find, as evidenced by the straw and bird droppings in the images, it still presented a tremendous opportunity."
The auction house add: "Imported around 25 years ago, there was no history file as such, but the V5C was present, and the VIN confirmed the car as a 1966 Convertible built in St Louis.
"This car deserves to be lavished with attention, and once fully prepared, it should reward such effort with an excellent outcome."
The Corvette was part of a 9 December sale of twenty cars that had stood in barns and fields for many years, so were all presented as "project cars in need of restoration".
Gary Dunne, Sales Manager of CCA, says: "Once in a while a collection of classic cars comes to market at No Reserve – with all this collection being restoration projects needing copious amounts of TLC, it gave bidders an unrepeatable opportunity to secure a car they have been dreaming of, with the chance to save the vehicle and put their own stamp on it. CCA’s Christmas Sale was just such an opportunity. And the bidders did not disappoint us."
"I'm foraging my entire Christmas dinner"
Meet the woman foraging her entire Christmas dinner – after spending a year gathering mushrooms, chestnuts, and acorns.
Zoe Young, 29, has an interest in social history and previously tasked herself with eating a rationed diet for a week – like families did following World War II.
She found herself going into nature to find food which inspired her next challenge – making an entire Christmas dinner from foraged food.
The support worker has spent the year hunting for mushrooms – such as oyster and chicken of the woods mushrooms – and chestnuts to use in a wellington.
Zoe he is making Yorkshire puddings with acorn flour and eggs from a local with chickens.
She has also urban foraged - identifying and collecting foods growing freely around your city – finding unopened jars of jam and sauces on the streets.
She plans to make and enjoy the meal with partner, Matt, 31, in the run up to Christmas.
Zoe, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, said: “I started off doing social history – like the ration challenge.
“I found out how much I liked it.
“I found myself going outside looking for stuff.
“I thought I could try foraging for Christmas dinner.
“Everything is seasonal – you find things as you go along.
“It’s completely surprised me how much you can find.”
Zoe took part in a ration challenge in December 2022 – only buying food 1950s Brits ate after the war.
It forced Zoe to think outside the box – picking wild nettles and hawthorn berries for soups, teas and jams.
After loving that challenge she decided to go one step further and make a completely foraged Christmas dinner for herself and Matt.
Zoe said: “I had to work out what I could make.
“I couldn’t have a Christmas dinner without a Yorkshire pudding – how do I make a foraged one?”
Zoe collected acorns to ground down into a flour and managed to find a local who had chickens for the eggs - and traded them for some homemade wine and jam.
For the main, Zoe has spent the year collecting mushrooms and chestnuts to make a puree for a wellington.
She said: “I’m a mushroom expert now.”
Zoe got her potatoes and vegetables from a friend - as her crops didn't take.
She has also made a jam to go with the meal from hawthorn berries and has found wild horseradish for an alternative sauce.
Zoe said: “The berries - it’s like a cranberry jam.”
The couple will be seasoning their food with wild garlic and herbs.
They will also be making cocktails from rose hips and have made wine out of apples.
Zoe said: “Things grow on stumps where you least expect it.”
She has found extra unopened sugar, salt, pepper, milk and sauce sachets from the streets to include in her recipes.
Zoe has been amazed by how much she has been able to find and has it all stocked up in her freezer ready to make.
She said: “Chicken of the woods mushrooms taste just like chicken.
“It’s mad.”
Zoe has also sourced some game meat from partner Matt – for his wellington.
Matt said: “It’s been great fun. An adventure.
“I’m looking forward to when we eat it.”
Zoe's foraged Christmas dinner -
Mushroom and chestnut wellington - foraged mushrooms and chestnuts for the filling. Acorn flour and eggs from a friend for the pastry.
Potatoes and seasonal vegetables - grown in a friend's garden
Yorkshire pudding - acorn flour and eggs from a friend
Game for Matt's wellington - sourced from a friend
Apple wine - made from foraged apples
Hawthorn berries jam - made from foraged berries
Two rundown tin bungalows have gone on sale - for 50p each
Two rundown tin bungalows have gone on sale - for 50p each.
The battered houses made of corrugated sheets sit in a South Wales Valleys mining village - and have hit the market for £1 the pair.
The tattered, terraced buildings in Crumlin near Blackwood in Gwent can be developed.
Sean Roper, of Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions, says no internal inspections of the pair of bungalows has been made due to their current condition.
He said: "The two tin bungalows are currently in a poor state of repair.
''However they do occupy an elevated position with views across the valley and do offer scope for improvement.
"The bungalows in their current state need some work but they may well be able to be renovated for AirBnB-type use or to be refurbished and rented out.
"Alternatively the plot of land that they are on may offer the possibility for alternative development such as the construction of a detached dwelling, subject, of course, to necessary planning consents.
"The village of Crumlin benefits from a range of local amenities and further shopping facilities are available in the nearby towns of Newbridge and Cwmbran, which is south on the A4042.
"Bungalow one is believed to contain an entrance, lounge, kitchen WC and two bedrooms while the second property has a lounge, bedroom and kitchen area.
''There is land to the sides, rear and front, with a parking area.
"The properties, listed with a guide price of £1, are to be sold with vacant possession."
The Paul Fosh Auctions online sale starts on December 12 and ends from 5pm on December 14.
Visit www.paulfoshauctions.co.uk for details.
Great-gran celebrates 101st birthday with NAKED butler
A great-grandmother received a 101st birthday treat to remember when a naked butler surprised her at her nursing home.
Winnie Goode was "beaming" when the hunk presented her with a birthday cake and a glass of Baileys at her landmark party.
Days before her big day she told staff at Summerdyne Nursing Home in Bewdley, Worcs., her birthday wish was for a “nice man” .
Managers at the home didn’t disappoint when they hired a ‘butler in the buff’ to surprise Winnie on her special day.
Winnie, who has two sons, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, said: “That was very nice – I enjoyed that immensely.
“I had two birthday cakes – it was very nice.”
When asked what the secret to a long and happy life was, Winnie added: “A lot of it is luck.
"It's important to keep going, be busy, eat properly and sleep properly and enjoy yourself."
Her saucy surprised was arranged by the nursing home staff with the help of Winnie’s son Chris.
Laura Dourish, wellbeing leader at the nursing home said: “When we asked Winnie what she wanted for her birthday she said ‘a nice man’.
“We took that literally and thought that’s what we’ll get her.
“Her face literally lit up like a Christmas tree. She was really really excited.
“She thought it was so funny as well because we’d taken it so literally.
“We got him to bring in cake and give her a Baileys. She really enjoyed it".
Winnie, who is originally from Essex, was born on November 20, 1922, when David
Lloyd George was Prime Minister and King George V was on the throne.
In 1942 she married her husband George and when World War Two broke out she worked in a munitions factory making fuses.
The couple, who lived in Norfolk, were married for 42 years before George died in 1984. Winnie later moved to be closer to her family in Bewdley, Worcs.
Over her remarkable life, Winnie has lived through 22 Prime Ministers and the entire 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
Last year Winnie was one of the first centenarians in the UK to receive a 100th birthday card from King Charles III.
She said: “I feel very happy to have seen so much in my life.”
Her son Chris, 70, said: "She is a remarkable woman and I'm lucky to live close to the nursing home so see her every day.
"She has got a great sense of humour and absolutely loved the butler in the buff surprise, it was the best birthday present she could have had."
