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.
WIDE EYED with a huge smile across her face, this little elephant is a picture of happiness .
Throwing a right hook as he launches onto his opponent with his gnarling teeth at the ready, this is the OTTER-LY ruthless showdown between two otters .
SOARING through the air, this is the moment a hungry tawny owl arrives home with dinner .
A rare manuscript of one of Charlotte Bronte’s earliest poems went under the hammer today and fetched nearly £100,000 – double what it was expected to get .
WRAPPED up in classy headscarves, these adorable pooches are the picture of sophistication .
A British photographer has captured the beauty of London in a stunning series of landscapes shots .
A Brit photographer has captured one of the world's most camera-shy species of fish - during a game of underwater peek-a-boo .
SNUGGLING up against their teddy bears, these baby sloths could easily be mistaken for one of the cuddly toys .
EAGERLY BITING his nails, this little squirrel is clearly nervous of looming predators as he searches for his meal .
WELCOME to the Temple of Zoom where you can “experience” sliding down a Mayan temple into shark infested waters .
WITH A LITTLE cap of fresh snow resting on his head, this squirrel tries his best to pull off his new look .