A family of foster carers are facing bankruptcy and homelessness after they signed up to a Government scheme to renovate their house to be used for disabled children's short breaks. Two years ago the Waite family received a grant from Leicestershire County Council to transform their home into a respite centre for severely disabled foster children. But after a dispute arose with the builder over the £75,000 extension to their three bedroom house in Leicestershire, Mark Waite, 44, and his wife Clair, 39, now face losing everything they have worked for. The couple, who represent the third generation in a 100-year family tradition of fostering disabled children, have had to sell all their furniture and clothes on ebay to pay solicitor's fees and say they now face total ruin. They say the council has "left them out in the cold" over the legal wrangle, leaving them responsible for tens of thousands of pounds of debt which will almost certainly result in them ending up on the streets with their two children.
If you had to scrape the snow off your car this morning or slip-slide your way into work over icy pavements spare a thought for these little critters .
MESMERIZING night sky photographs offer a spellbinding look at the stars .
HIDDEN in the middle of the Mojave Desert, a secret oasis awaits intrepid travellers .
This may look like a monster car engine that will leave petrol heads in a spin, but it is in fact a rather snazzy looking COFFEE MACHINE .
LEAPING for joy five-feet above the waves this baby whale cutie is saying HELLO to its family after being lost .
SAILING peacefully across a river in the early morning light, a fisherman in China keeps a 1000 year old tradition alive .
A middle spotted woodpecker swoops into her nest and feeds her young in a forest in Trentino, Italy .
Leaping out of the ocean, a group of gentoo penguins fly through the air before landing safely on an iceberg .
A WIMBLEDON-mad couple will be creating a racket this summer - after installing a TENNIS COURT in their living room .
WITH the phosphorescent blobs and mesmerising patterns, these spectacular images may look like the hall marks of an enchanted forest but it is in fact the scene of thousands of dancing FIREFLIES .
This starling and prairie dog will not back down an inch as they have a fearsome stand-off over who gets to eat a nut .
FORGET Thorpe Park this summer as this is a 50 mile-per-hour ride over the Colorado River CANYON .