BBC News • 22nd November 2023

Teen artist who raised £250k for charity dies aged 15

Noah, who lived in Dedham, Essex, first collaborated with artists across the world for a painting project three years ago and raised money for the NHS hospital that treated him.

"It has been extremely special sharing our little legend with you all," said Mr Jones, writing on Facebook.

"You've all helped produce so many special moments and memories over the last three years. Moments we will cherish forever.

"He had a blast, made his mark and we are so proud of him."

He started painting on car

BBC News • 4th August 2023

River Stour swimmers criticise bathing water rule changes

Wild swimmers hoping for bathing water status for their local river said they were "horrified" after the government changed the rules.

The swimmers are applying for water quality to be monitored in the River Stour in Manningtree, Essex.

BBC News • 10th July 2023

Mum paints stretch marks on Barbie for daughter

A mother who developed stretch marks while pregnant has painted some on her daughter's Barbie "so she can grow up knowing they are normal".

Her daughter, now three, is a fan of Barbies but Mrs Claxton could not find any she felt represented her own body.

"I would love the manufacturers to make some Barbies with stretch marks to spread the message that they are nothing to worry about."

The 35-year-old had already bought her daughter a diverse range of the dolls, including one with a prosthetic

BBC News • 4th July 2023

Cancer patients welcome NHS drug policy change

Before the rule change, if a patient took a treatment break for longer than six weeks they would have to reapply for NHS funding, with no guarantee it would be approved.

Mr Marsland, who has incurable cancer, needed to pause his treatment for a hernia operation last year. He had to take a shorter break due to the policy and was left worrying he might have to fund cetuximab himself in the future.

The father-of-two, who works as a principal technologist for BT, has been through 93 rounds of chem

BBC News • 20th June 2023

Egg freezing rises as more women look to preserve fertility

"I remember having counselling explaining the reason why I wanted to freeze my eggs and being given the opportunity to donate as well. I took that option as I wasn't just doing it for myself.

"After donating I started to feel quite guilty. I wasn't sure that I had done the right thing. What if the mother of the child isn't a good one? What if the child ends up in foster care? What if it's neglected?

"This will be an ongoing conversation with my two children that they have a genetic sister out

BBC News • 29th May 2023

Flesh-eating bug nearly kills new mum

After a scan revealed pockets of gas underneath her tissue, they realised it could be necrotising fasciitis. Doctors said she needed immediate surgery to remove a large amount of dead tissue to stop the flesh-eating bacteria from spreading.

Miss Chatterton was kept sedated for three days and woke up to two large wounds on her stomach, which had to left open for six days to help her body recover until they were able to fit a vacuum pump.

"I'm still finding it quite difficult psychologically, bu

BBC News • 28th May 2023

Hundreds take to the water for clean river campaign

The S.W.I.M (Safe Water in Manningtree) team has to count the number of people who use the water on 20 different days over the summer to prove it is a popular bathing spot.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs considers how many people bath there, whether the site has suitable facilities and where investment would have the most impact when making its decision.

Manningtree Beach is impacted by three sewer storm overflows which spill into the Stour, but only one has been monito

BBC News • 9th May 2023

Mum who missed baby's birth determined to recover

A mum who missed the first six months of her baby's life due to a brain tumour is determined to get better for her daughter, her partner said.

BBC News • 27th February 2023

Teen could end up in wheelchair due to NHS delays

Aimee said: "I just want to be normal, whatever normal is. I want to hang out with my friends and be a kid."

BBC News • 26th February 2023

Dying woman throws party instead of funeral

Ms Williams writing a bucket list when she was diagnosed and number one was a flight in a Spitfire. It was "absolutely crazy, fantastic and more than I ever wished for", and her son followed behind in a chaser plane, she said.

BBC News • 12th February 2023

Wild swimmers bid for bathing water status

Some members have fallen sick after swimming in the river, where sewage was recorded as having been released for more than 1,200 hours last year.

BBC News • 30th January 2023

Rugby player ends up in hospital due to dog poo

A rugby player who ended up in hospital with an infection in his leg from dog poo said the problem needed to be taken more seriously.

BBC News • 19th November 2022

Nurse burned in fire proud of bodybuilding debut

Ms Charlesworth had always dreamed of taking part in a bodybuilding contest, but put her plans on hold while she recovered from the fire, which happened not long after she had bought a house in Cornard and moved out of her father's house in Colchester.

"My bikini was inspired by the 'girl on fire' vibe and that's why it went from red into orange. I wanted to encompass it within the show as it's a part of me," she said.

"I felt quite nervous beforehand and was messaging the federation and the t

BBC News • 14th November 2022

'We've got to sell our family home due to mortgage rise'

A mother-of-three said she was devastated at having to put her house on the market because she could no longer afford her mortgage payments.

BBC News • 7th November 2022

Bereaved mum devastated by new baby son's cancer

A mother whose baby son died last year said she could not understand how life could be so cruel after her new baby was diagnosed with leukaemia.

"I don't understand how life can be so cruel and my baby has now got to go through this," she said.

Friends have set up a GoFundMe page for the family to help pay for their accommodation while Ralphie has chemotherapy for the next five months at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

"If we haven't already been through hell and back here we are agai

BBC News • 3rd November 2022

'Seeing Matt Hancock on I'm A Celebrity will bring back heartache'

Despite widespread criticism about appearing in the ITV show, the West Suffolk MP said it was the job of politicians to engage with people.

Mrs Bibby said her son felt like he was "in prison" while in hospital with leukaemia and begged to see his family, but they were "barely allowed in".

She said she was "disgusted" that the man who set the rules had broken them, while her son lay dying.

"I have spoken to many bereaved families and we all feel so angry that Matt Hancock is going into the jun

BBC News • 30th October 2022

'We've only got 30p left on our prepayment meter'

Research suggests the energy crisis has pushed more UK households on to prepayment gas and electricity meters, with 60,000 new meters installed in the six months to March.

'What else can I sacrifice?'

Mrs Jefferies-Wilkin said the family currently had 22 pence in their bank account and 30 pence-worth of electric left on their meter, which was installed in the summer by Scottish Power.

"I'm constantly running out of money. I'm having to borrow money just to ensure I've got enough for the meter

BBC News • 26th October 2022

'I may have to put my child in care due to bills'

"I will happily sit in the cold when she's not here, but I don't have that option most of the time, because Rosey might have a seizure if she gets cold," she said.

BBC News • 13th October 2022

Boy who saved toddler surprised by TV hero

An Australian TV star surprised a boy who saved a drowning toddler by turning up at a pub to congratulate him.

Bruce Hopkins, a lifeguard who stars in the reality show Bondi Rescue, wanted to meet 10-year-old Cooper Adams after hearing about his heroics.

Cooper, from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, saved a drowning child in August and told the BBC he was inspired by his favourite TV show.

"I've come all the way over to England to chat to Cooper because he is amazing. He spotted a three-year-old in t

BBC News • 8th October 2022

Protester in viral arrest video 'doing it for son'

Ms Johnson, who works for a hotel, was part of a Just Stop Oil demonstration with about 200 others and was attempting to glue her hands to the bridge over the Thames when she was taken away by four police officers.

In the video of her arrest, which has been retweeted by more than 50,000 people, including the comedian and actor Ricky Gervais, she is heard saying: "I'm doing this for my son. The government's inaction on climate change is a death sentence to us all.

BBC News • 24th September 2022

Grace Victory reunites with doctor after Covid coma cardiac arrest

A YouTuber who went into cardiac arrest while in a coma with Covid has reunited with the doctor who saved her life.

Ms Victory, who is also an author, said she felt privileged returning to Northwick Park Hospital in London to give a talk with him for trainee staff.

"It was an honour to talk with Dr Viv about the good and the bad from my 98-day stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to give advice on things that could be improved upon from a patient perspective," she said.

"Dr Viv said my h

BBC News • 8th September 2022

School cannot afford text books due to cost of living crisis

A head teacher said his school could no longer afford new text books after its gas bill went up by more than £100,000.

Vic Goddard, the head of a trust made up of four schools in Harlow, Essex, said he was struggling to sleep because of the "frightening" situation.

"I came into this job to make a difference, but how can I do that when we have no resources?" he said.

Mr Goddard, the chief executive officer of Passmores Cooperative Learning Community, said the trust would not be able to subsidi

BBC News • 24th August 2022

Woman with incurable cancer campaigns for scans

"I've had excellent treatment on the NHS but by the time I was diagnosed last summer, the cancer had spread to my bones and now it is in my brain.

"It is crucial that secondary breast cancer is diagnosed as swiftly as possible since there is evidence that early access to treatment options can improve the outcomes and quality of life of women and men with this form of the disease," she said.

"The NHS is funding a clinical audit of patients with secondary breast cancer to provide a unique insigh

BBC News • 19th August 2022

Boy warns public to be careful after saving toddler from drowning

A 10-year-old boy who helped to save a toddler from drowning has urged people to be aware of the dangers of the sea.

Cooper Adams, from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, was on holiday in Dorset when he spotted a three-year-old boy bobbing up and down in the water.

He shouted to his parents that the boy was drowning and his father Ben rushed into the sea to save him.

"I just want people to look out for each other when they visit the beach because it can be dangerous," he said.

He saw the little boy f