A woman has spoken of her heartbreak after she was rejected by an adoption agency because of her pregnancy phobia. Kayleigh-Emma Shiel, 30, has always dreamed of becoming a mother, but suffers from tokophobia – a fear of childbirth. Her condition means that she is unable to conceive a child of her own as she is too terrified of pregnancy and the associated pain. Believing that adoption was her only chance of becoming a mother, Kayleigh and her fabricator husband Gary, 47, applied to adopt a child in January this year. But the couple, from Elland, West Yorkshire, were rejected partly due to Kayleigh’s unusual phobia.
With the vivid red smoke billowing into the sky amid the misty sand dunes, these are the blissful views provided at the break of dawn at a volcano .
STRIKING photos capture nature at its most raw and powerful during Earth’s most electrifying event .
This cheeky macaque gets up close and personal as he examines the dental hygiene of his fellow primate .
A makeup artist from the West Midlands magically transforms herself into famous cartoon characters using body paint .
RACING through the mountain range on horseback, the Kazakh people practice their ancient tradition of hunting with golden eagles .
A SERENE turquoise glow glimmers from underneath these powerful icebergs .
LEAPING through the air this determined little mouse is on a mission for food .
While often referred to as the kings of the jungle, gorillas - for all their might - are notorious hydrophobes .
UNDERWATER and above-water seaside shots show the best of British beach-life .
SURROUNDED by a snowstorm, these young polar bears battle the elements - as well as each other .
A trio of ants are locked in a tug of war over a fly as they pull the bug by its legs .
SWIMMING slowly towards the shore, a small group of bottlenose dolphins arrive for breakfast at a beach in Western Australia .