Metro

Share this article with Google Plus It seems everyone has some sort of intolerance these days, be it gluten, dairy, soya or sesame seeds. And while the shift towards more awareness of gut health is extremely positive, it’s easy to forget the crippling and life threatening consequences of the most severe allergies. Many allergies will not result in just discomfort, but rather a potentially life threatening reaction. Last Sunday marked the start of World Allergy Week, and four people told us w

I don’t know what you think of when you think about brown men but I think about my dad, Dev Patel off Slumdog Millionaire and my local corner shop guys bumping Jason Derulo on their phones. The first picture that pops into my mind is a strapping, stoic salt-and-pepper bearded man – not unlike my dad – with his sleeves rolled up. This is a man who has lived through change from racism in the 1960s – a time of Enoch Powell’s Rivers of Blood speech – to the modern day in Nigel Farage’s Brexit land

Surprise travel is a growing trend, so a brave Laura Millar signs up for a mysterious package. But where is she going?

A body piercer who sliced off her own finger because it ‘looks cute’ has turned the severed limb into a pendent. Torz Reynolds decided to cut off her little finger with bolt cutters on Valentine’s Day last year after wanting to do it for a decade. After keeping the stump in the freezer next to a bag of peas for 365 days, Torz decided to mark the occasion by immortalising the frozen finger as a pendant necklace. The 30-year-old body modifier bought a glass vial, filled it with alcohol solution and dunked the detached digit inside attached to a chain so it wouldn’t waste away in the freezer. Boyfriend Xav also presented Torz with a collection of tiny hats to dress her stump, which she has affectionately named Wiggles.

You can’t get away from the fact your life is going to change as soon as your little one arrives. There’s bound to be sleepless nights, crying sessions – hopefully just from your little bundle of joy – and a lack of personal hygiene, but it’s not all bad, I promise. Like everything in life, there’s the good advice, the bad, and the ugly, but after I asked a bunch of dedicated daddies from around the world for their thoughts, here are some of the top tips they came up with to help you keep your

A teenager who was known to wear headphones while cycling was crushed to death by a lorry after a ‘momentary lapse of judgement’, an inquest heard. Olivia Wojciechowska, 18, was cycling home when she turned into the path of the lorry in Eccles Old Road, Salford, and was killed at 3.30pm last September. A set of broken headphones were discovered at the scene, however it was not determined whether they belonged to Olivia or if she was wearing them at the time. Driver Krzysztof Charewicz was cle

A young man fell 50 feet to his death from a roof while attempting to take a selfie, an inquest heard. Amir Navaratnam is thought to have stumbled and fallen after clambering through a fourth floor window to take pictures at the four star Principal Hotel in Manchester. Staff witnessed the former electrician from Haslingden, Lancashire, using the camera flash on his mobile phone whilst walking precariously along the building’s bell tower. Police warned him to get down but Amir, who was known b

Share this article with Google Plus Sometimes there is nothing better than a tub of Nutella, with a spoon plunged straight in. The chocolatey, creamy spread is a UK taste sensation and is definitely a family favourite. And with World Nutella Day on February 4, there’s no excuse not to dig in. But if you’re vegan or dairy-free, you’re out of luck as it contains both milk and whey. Fortunately, there are now plenty of alternative options, and they really taste as delicious as the ‘real’ stuff.

A selfless woman suffered a broken hip when she was attacked by two homeless people as she donated food and clothes to another rough sleeper. However, Catherine Whittaker saved her attacker Amanda Briggs from prison when she told a judge: ‘I would get no gratification from seeing Amanda go to jail.’ The 45-year-old logistics worker was helping a former serviceman, identified only as Neil, when she was ambushed by Briggs and a man in Manchester on December 23 2015. Briggs, 29, and her accompli

Fathers these days have the opportunity to spend longer at home after the birth of their child if the mother opts to cut short her maternity. However, it’s still very much a case of the majority of parents leaving mums at home while dads return to work. In this instance, it raises the question of whether the ‘bread-winner’ should be allowed a full night’s uninterrupted sleep, or should feeds after midnight remain a shared responsibility. Looking back in history, even asking your grandparents,

A conman lied about his relatives being seriously ill to convince people returning from their holidays to lend him some cash. Gary Lyon has been jailed for 16 months by a judge who condemned him for his ‘wicked lies’ and told him: ‘Shame on you.’ The 50-year-old targeted people flying into Manchester Airport by telling them he needed to visit his gravely ill father in hospital – but had no money. His fake sob story convinced Peter Cheung to hand over £20, before Lyon pressurised Lesley Berry

Share this article with Google Plus We all love them, chains are named after them, and we cover them in cheese, fill them relish and argue over gherkins. Yes, I’m talking about the nation’s favourite – a big fat burger. Classically, it involves sandwiching a patty of beef between two buns and topping with, well, whatever we like. So, what if you’re vegan? What options are available then? It turns out, quite a lot. Here are the eight best places to grab yourself a delicious vegan burger in L

Share this article with Google Plus Veganuary has hit our social media big time this month, with hundreds of thousands of people across the globe taking the pledge to go vegan for January. There is a common misconception that it’s all beans, lentils and soya milk, so I’ve compiled eight delicious vegan recipes that taste so good, you wouldn’t even realise they’re vegan. You don’t have to be a vegan to enjoy these, just appreciative of a good hearty winter meal. The perfect inspiration if you

A man shot himself after he was left unable to do any housework due to a severe heart condition. David Bradbury, 63, became embarrassed about his untidy home after high blood pressure and hypertension left him with increasing bouts of breathlessness. Two weeks after going to a doctor about his condition, Mr Bradbury wrote a note saying: ‘I am sorry I have to take my own life by suicide. ‘I can’t live with this heart condition anymore, it makes me so bad and I can’t do any work around the hous

Share this article with Google Plus A boy was stabbed and left for dead after he mocked two men for riding children’s scooters. The 16-year-old saw Luke Bidgood and Joby Jeffrey riding together and said ‘Why are two grown man (sic.) riding those toys’ which sparked a sustained violent attack. Jeffrey immediately dismounted and threw the scooter at the boy, and then when the youngster managed to get him in a headlock Bidgood attacked him with a knife. The pair then kicked the boy repeatedly u

Share this article with Google Plus It’s coming to the end of January and let’s be honest, we’re really scraping the bottom of the purse before payday. If you’re gluten-free, this can be challenging still. Coming across a cheap eat in these circumstances is pretty rare – even to grab a sandwich it’s easy to end up forking out about £4. So, as we near the end of January, here are some of the best eateries in the capital to dine gluten-free that won’t break your bank balance. If you love a bi

Successful potty training is an achievement that has to be celebrated. Your little one is growing up. No longer do you look like a poor imitation of Santa Claus as you drag behind you a bag full of ‘presents’ while emptying those nappy bins that are full to the brim with the gifts provided by your little angel. However, for many, ditching the diapers and replacing them with briefs is certainly not a plain-sailing task. Every day, parents across the globe are being traumatised by their effort

Life changes when you become a father - make sure you embrace it!

Is Newcastle Europe's top destination?

Share this article with Google Plus A leading paediatrician, who was caught speeding eight times by the same camera, has been banned from driving. Dr Maria Hadjicosta, 45, drove her Mercedes E250 at speeds of up to 69mph on a stretch of motorway near Manchester that had a temporary 50mph limit. She claimed she did not understand the provisional limit between Junction 18 and 19 of the Eastbound carriageway of the M60. Hadjicosta, who is training to be a consultant at Royal Oldham Hospital, wa

Share this article with Google Plus Christmas may have you licking your lips at the thought of roast and all the trimmings. But not everyone around the world tucks into a turkey, cranberry sauce and pigs in blankets. Here are some of the more unusual Christmas foods from across the globe. The ‘mopane caterpillar’ is an edible caterpillar and feeds predominately on the mopane leaf. The harvest time of these little critters coincidentally coincides with Christmas and hence these grace plenty

Share this article with Google Plus Tis the season to be jolly, and eat all the food in sight. That’s the saying, right? The Christmas invitations will soon start flooding in, but the buffet parties can quickly become something of a minefield if you suffer from an allergy or dietary restriction. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are twelve items which are in the shops right now, and are waiting to be added to your ‘free from’ party buffet. This is a great option as it’s coconut-

Share this article with Google Plus Sparkling wine, warm punch and mulled wine are all on the menu as we enter the Christmas party period. While bars and restaurants will be swapping in some festive alternatives to their usual cocktail menu, why not give it a go yourself this season? It may seem a bit daunting but you don’t need any equipment or special skills, and you’ll probably have most of the ingredients in your cupboards already. Here are five wonderfully simple and yummy cocktails you

Share this article with Google Plus A 23-year-old man tried to suffocate his mum and threatened to cut her throat when he came home and realised he’d lost his keys on a night out. Christopher Delaney, from Bury, attacked his mum Collette, 50, after she let him into their flat in Heywood, Greater Manchester, on August 1 at 8am. He had been out drinking all night after splitting up with his girlfriend. When Mrs Delaney let him in her son suddenly lost his temper and launched a drunken and fren

Share this article with Google Plus The tedious time between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day when you’re off work, you’ve eaten your body weight in food and you’re not quite sure what to do with yourself. So how should you fill the time? Play more board games with the family? Watch endless festive TV and pretend you’re still cheery? Well, if you’re stuck for things to do, here are eight wonderfully different things to try over the Christmas limbo period: Dreamland, located on the Kent coast in

A devoted girlfriend accidentally killed herself in an attempt to stop her boyfriend doing the same. Corinne Hayes, 23, was terrified Brian Marshall was about to kill himself and told him she would ‘hang herself first’, an inquest has heard. It is believed the healthcare worker thought her boyfriend would find her in time – but he tragically did not. She sent the 33-year-old a text saying: ‘If you are going to do it, so am I. Meet you on the other side.’ But he didn’t see the text in time an

Share this article with Google Plus It was day two of the four-week liquid diet and I was ravenous. I was drinking enough supplementary liquids to provide me with enough calories, but my body was screaming for a cake. Or bread. Or pasta. Basically anything. My boyfriend came round after work, after gobbling down his dinner while walking to me so I didn’t have to watch him eat. But the next morning he bought a packet of chocolate crepes for breakfast and brazenly took them out of his bag whi

Improved mood, wanting to avoid unpleasant side effects or the convenience of being prescription-free – there are many reasons you might decide you’re ready to come off antidepressants. Here’s what you can expect when you do.

Share this article with Google Plus The festive season is upon us, and although it’s fabulous to be surrounded by food, drink and merriment, it can be a daunting time if you are dealing with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. IBD affects more than 300,000 people in the UK, according to charity Crohn’s and Colitis UK, and causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, what we put into our bodies can often have a direct impact on our Crohn’s or Colitis symptoms, and the Christmas season

Share this article with Google Plus It’s Christmas market season, and there are endless options dotted across the UK’s towns and cities. For those looking to do a bit of Christmas shopping or just to get in the festive spirit, here are six of the best Christmas markets in the UK, as described by the people who live there. Deb Sharratt from My Boys Club says: ‘The best Christmas market in Newcastle is the Grainger Market. ‘This hall houses more than 100 businesses with many local, independen