A Manchester woman is vowing never to buy furniture from charity shops again after purchasing a secondhand chest of drawers with something horrifying inside

Purchasing from a charity shop is always something of a risk. Charity shops offer excellent opportunities to find all manner of items if you’re working with a tight budget, from clothing and books to furniture. However, as everything is pre-owned, the quality or condition of your purchase can never be fully guaranteed.

Furniture ranks amongst the most popular charity shop purchases, particularly for those who’ve just relocated, as buying brand new can prove extremely costly, while secondhand pieces often maintain decent quality. But one woman on social media has sworn off buying furniture from charity shops following a disturbing find.

Ellie Henry, a Manchester-based actor, posted a video on TikTok revealing she’d bought a chest of drawers from a charity shop to kit out her new property, and said she “couldn’t believe” what she discovered inside one of the compartments.

The woman explained she was so repelled by what she encountered that she reckons it will be the “last time” she ever purchases furniture from a charity shop, as she doesn’t feel she can face another unsettling episode.

Ellie then displayed the chest of drawers in question, which looked like a standard wooden unit. The top drawer was divided into two sections, with the piece featuring four additional drawers beneath.

Once she arrived home, Ellie decided to give the drawers a thorough wipe down, and thought it wise to inspect the inside – only to discover something deeply unpleasant lurking within one of them.

Donning a glove before pulling the drawer open, she said: “It is so bad that I’m not willing to touch it. No, no, no. I will not be touching that with my hands. I don’t even know how I’m supposed to show you this.”

Gingerly opening the drawer, Ellie then unveiled the disturbing contents – a photograph of a naked man.

The image was cropped at the top, meaning the man’s face was not visible, and Ellie used her gloved hand to conceal the man’s genitals that would otherwise have been fully on display in the photo.

She exclaimed: “What are you doing in here?! What are you doing in my nice new drawers?! Safe to say I’m going to have to burn these. Because I don’t know who owned these before me, but I don’t want their vibes.”

Ellie went on to explain that each drawer had originally been lined with a sheet of paper, and the explicit image had been concealed beneath it, meaning she had missed it when inspecting the furniture in the charity shop. She also confirmed she would not be keeping the drawers, as they had left her feeling deeply unsettled.

Viewers commenting on the post were left baffled by the peculiar discovery. Many suggested that leaving the picture there felt “intentional” on the part of the furniture’s previous owners, while others felt Ellie was being “dramatic”.

One person said: “This feels so intentional.” One user wrote: “It’s like when you strip old wallpaper and find messages written by previous house owners.”

However, another disagreed: “It’s a bit dramatic deciding not to keep the chest of drawers! Just clean them and put new liners in.”

We’ve covered an extensive amount of technology here at Telegraph Recommended, from the latest smartphones and laptops to voice-activated kitchen bins. There are a lot of products on the market, but one person who knows how to sort the wheat from the chaff is Jason Bradbury.

The tech expert is best known for presenting Channel 5’s technology programme The Gadget Show for 12 years. He’s also the author of a series of techno-thrillers for children, and has also been on the judging panels for the BAFTA Video Games Awards and the MediaGuardian Innovation Awards.

We sat down with Bradbury at the Ideal Home Show in Birmingham, where he curated the smart home showcase, for our Readers Ask series, where industry specialists answer queries from our Telegraph Recommended Reader Panel. Read his answers below.

Is there a best time of year to purchase new gadgets?

Boris, North West

Yes. Often, new technology is showcased in January and is sometimes revisited in summer, then is available to buy in the autumn. That means September, October or November is the best time to buy new tech, like games consoles, virtual reality helmets or new smartphones.

If you were on a desert island, which gadget would you miss the most?

My Onewheel. As the name suggests, it’s a single wheel with a skateboard built around it. It’s the closest you’ll get to being like Marty McFly in Back To The Future. At the ripe age of 57 years old, this is my daily driver. When I’ve taken my kids to school, I jump on my skateboard and glide down into town. I live in Newquay, Cornwall, and while you can go on the beach with it, it’s got to be a flat beach. A desert island isn’t going to be ideal.

Do you prefer iPhone or Android devices?

This is a political question for which 50 per cent of the population are going to hate me. In fact, a larger proportion of people actually have Android devices.

I love both for different reasons, and both have amazing features to offer. The walled garden that is the iPhone is a coherent operating system, but you can’t put stuff on or get stuff off it easily, which Android is great for.

Are we pushing technology into areas of the home that don’t need it?

Anthony, Yorkshire

There’s nothing wrong with an AI feature-rich bird table. We may be pushing technology into areas of the home that it never belonged in, but it’s a choice. We get pressured to buy the shiniest new thing, but it’s easy to go off grid. I have a campervan, and while yes I plug it in to charge the battery, it’s pretty much off grid. I could take an Xbox with me, but I don’t.

If you choose to buy technology that enhances life for you, that’s great. Take the bird feeder – one I saw at the Ideal Home Show, for example, uses AI to identify the species of bird that’s nibbling on the seeds that you put out. If you’re not as mobile as you used to be, you get to interact with your garden in a way that you wouldn’t ordinarily be able to. Someone else would say that was a ridiculous idea.

It’s an exciting time. I like where smart tech is going. In the health area, it could be seen as an intrusion, collecting the most intimate data around your body. But it’s important to know where your health is so you can take action and own it.

What are your tech predictions for the next few years?

Brian, London

AI is going to bring us new materials. There will be efficiency gains in the recovery of thermal energy, with benefits for fuel efficiency. We’ll see new types of polymers and non-polluting plastics, with gains through AI in biology to make organisms that can consume plastic. This will hopefully solve microplastic pollution – a dreadful problem in Cornwall. There will also be advances in surgery, identifying disease in treatment and pharmacology.

I understand people’s jobs are at risk from AI, and that’s a real consequence. But if you stop the cynicism for a minute, it is an incredible moment in our history. I feel privileged to be gazing through the window of the next two years and beyond. We could be looking at fusion reactors efficient enough to work properly, self-driving vehicles that will make travel safer and more efficient, new fuels… It’s mind-blowing.

When did your interest in tech begin?

Daniel, London

My father, who was a plastics expert working for a factory, brought home a prototype for the first generation of digital watches and calculators.

I was born in 1969, and it was an amazing time to be alive. Growing up and being conscious of tech in the 70s and 80s felt similar to how it does now. The ‘70s was quite analogue before the mass adoption of consumer electronics, computers and video games. The fervour around new ideas, born of the obsession and efficiency gains with AI, is a similar feeling to the 80s.

Who was your biggest inspiration?

Ekaterina, West Midlands

My father. He was a huge fan of technology and insisted on buying me computers and first-generation consoles. He got me to try programming and be connected to the world in which he was making prototypes for the new computer generation.

There’s also Sir Clive Sinclair, who was the ‘80s answer to Elon Musk, if Elon Musk was ginger and looked like a geography teacher. He was the brains behind the first computer that a lot of British kids in the 80s got their hands on, the ZX80, ZX81 and the ZX Spectrum. I actually own the Sinclair C5 vehicle from 1985, although I don’t drive it too often because it’s not that reliable.

Does having a smart home pose any security risks?

Liam, London

Yes. When you install cameras and smart devices that track you, there is, without a shadow of a doubt, a consideration there around who does what with that data. When everything’s connected, someone can hack it. There are efforts every minute of every day to grab your personal information to monetise it. You need to consider that, especially with AI, which is great at writing code, hacking and putting that power in the hands of all kinds of people.

What I’d say on that score is to get a router with good security, and don’t go with default passwords.

What’s your ‘take’ on children and gadgets?

Patricia, West Midlands

As the father of three crazy young people, one of whom is a professional Fortnite player, I have an open attitude to technology. But I also don’t like seeing kids in restaurants staring at an iPad. I also understand the pressures that parents have and I’m guilty of doing the same thing. Sometimes you’ve been up all night with a baby, so your toddler gets the iPad instead of you.

I don’t think people need me to patronise them and tell them what they already know, which is that technology is empowering, wonderful and fun, but when it’s sunny outside, get out there and get dirty. It’s all about balance.

The event on Saturday, April 25, and will include a dedicated “quiet hour” for families with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) from 10 am to 11 am.

During this time, the station will offer a calmer environment before opening up to the wider public.

Billy McAloon, station manager, said: “Our station open days are always one of highlights of the year.

Darlington Fire Station will host a community open day a dedicated quiet hour (Image: CDDFRS)

“It is a great way for residents to meet their local firefighters who work around the clock to keep them safe and ask them any questions about the role.

“There’s also the chance to look around the fire station, see some of our crews in action during demonstrations, and enjoy some family entertainment with rides and food.

“It is so important to us that we are an inclusive Service and everyone feels welcome.

Darlington Fire Station will host a community open day a dedicated quiet hour (Image: CDDFRS)

“That’s why we have launched a quiet hour for SEND families to be able to enjoy everything the open day has to offer before it opens to the general public.

“It is the first time we have done this and we hope it creates a relaxed experience for families who come along.”

Up to 25 SEND families can register to attend the quieter session, which is designed to be less busy and more accommodating.

The open day will then run from 11 am to 3 pm, featuring fire service demonstrations, food and drink stalls, and games.

Next week, Steve Tandy will name his Wales squad for the summer Tests.

Given there’s four matches to play, with the uncapped game against the Barbarians preceding the Nations Championship fixtures with Fiji, Argentina and South Africa, Tandy might opt to name an extended squad before whittling it down. Given he’s unlikely to have access to English-based players immediately, that would make sense.

The question is who will form that squad – one that will be answered in the coming days.

However, ahead of time, here’s who could be in the frame to make Tandy’s squad…

Props

Starting in the front-row, there’s six nailed on names.

Rhys Carre, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Keiron Assiratti, Tomas Francis and Archie Griffin should be in there.

If there’s other names to be included, Cardiff loosehead Rhys Barratt – tipped for a big future – could be one.

On the tighthead, it’s harder to see who the next cab off the rank is. Sam Wainwright was called up in the Six Nations, while Ben Warren has also been brought in at times in the last year.

Rhys Carre, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Rhys Barratt, Keiron Assiratti, Tomas Francis, Archie Griffin, Ben Warren

Hookers

Assuming Dewi Lake misses out through injury, Wales’ hooker stocks are still relatively strong.

Elliot Dee could be in line for a recall, given he continues to be a consistent performer, while Ryan Elias is powerful.

Beyond that, Liam Belcher, Evan Lloyd, Brodie Coghlan and Lewis Lloyd are all options. The Wales coaching staff seem to like Cardiff captain Belcher.

Lloyd would be an exciting choice, but Dragons’ Coghlan could be the pick.

Ryan Elias, Elliot Dee, Liam Belcher, Brodie Coghlan

Second-rows

There was a changing of the guard in terms of the starting second-rows during the Six Nations.

Ben Carter usurped Adam Beard in Tandy’s starting side, but the Montpellier lock isn’t likely to fall out of the squad altogether just yet.

Teddy Williams still isn’t back from injury yet, but Rhys Davies could well join Tandy’s Six Nations options next week.

Dafydd Jenkins, Ben Carter, Adam Beard, Freddie Thomas, Rhys Davies

Back-rows

This week, Jac Morgan noted how competitive the back-row is – talking about selection as if he’s not guaranteed a place.

Of course, it would be the bombshell to end all bombshells were Morgan not in the squad next week. He’ll captain the side, but it’ll interesting to see what Wales do upon his return.

James Botham was very good at openside in the Six Nations. Josh Macleod and Harri Deaves could fight out for the third spot in that position, given Tommy Reffell seems to be persona non grata.

On the blindside, Alex Mann enjoyed a fine Six Nations. Taine Plumtree has a Test players’ credentials hidden somewhere behind a spate of yellow cards, while Ryan Woodman deserves more time with the squad.

As for No. 8, Aaron Wainwright is one of Wales’ best players right now. Olly Cracknell is a solid option too. Kane James, if he’s fit and that’s a big if as he’s not returned yet, should be an option as he’s understood to have thrown his lot in with Wales.

If not, do Wales look at Morgan Morris? Let’s not forget about Morgan Morse, either.

Jac Morgan (captain), James Botham, Harri Deaves, Alex Mann, Olly Cracknell, Taine Plumtree, Aaron Wainwright, Kane James, Ryan Woodman

Scrum-halves

There’s probably likely to be little change at scrum-half.

Were Che Hope fit, he could have pushed. As it is, the same three as the Six Nations seems likely.

Tomos Williams, Keiran Hardy, Reuben Morgan-Williams

Fly-halves

Dan Edwards remains the first-choice after the Six Nations.

However, there’s some concerns beyond him. Sam Costelow and Jarrod Evans are both sidelined – so Tandy will have to get a prognosis on both of those before naming his squad.

If they aren’t fit, Callum Sheedy is probably the next cab off the rank, while Joe Hawkins – despite being Wales’ first-choice 12 in the Six Nations – is playing 10 week-in, week-out for the Scarlets.

Dan Edwards, Callum Sheedy, Joe Hawkins

Centres

If Hawkins is seen as a 10 this summer, that could open things up for a more physical centre pairing.

Eddie James was very good at 13, but he could move to 12 to bring Max Llewellyn back into the fold.

Expect Louie Hennessey to see more minutes after some big outings for Bath, while Joe Roberts has looked good for the Scarlets after missing the Six Nations.

Eddie James, Ben Thomas, Louie Hennessey, Max Llewellyn, Joe Roberts

Back-three

Back-three ended up being an interesting one in the Six Nations, with Louis Rees-Zammit being handed the 15 jersey.

However, could Tandy rethink full-back? Jacob Beetham, albeit on the wing, has shown the sorts of traits you’d want from a Test full-back for Cardiff, while Angus O’Brien has made his case across the campaign.

On the wing, there’s injury doubts about Ellis Mee and Mason Grady.

Rio Dyer should come back into contention, while Gabriel Hamer-Webb deserves another chance after being amongst the tries for Leicester.

Josh Adams, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Tom Rogers, Rio Dyer, Blair Murray, Louis Rees-Zammit, Jacob Beetham, Angus O’Brien

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One of the UK’s first gay surrogate parents has been charged with human trafficking and sexual exploitation, along with another man.

Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 57, was charged with the offences yesterday following an investigation by Essex Police.

The reality TV star rose to fame in 1999 when he welcomed a child with his ex-husband through a surrogate mother, becoming one of the first gay couples to do so.

Drewitt-Barlow is the co-owner of Maldon and Tiptree football club together with Scott Drewitt-Barlow, 32.

Both men face charges of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation and a spate of sexual offences, including rape of a man.

Detectives were seen at the Drewitt-Barlow Stadium earlier in the week, home to Maldon and Tiptree FC in Essex, while Barrie Drewitt-Barlow’s mansion was also searched.

Essex Police said its serious crime officers carried out co-ordinated searches at premises in Danbury, Maldon and Braintree on Wednesday, and two men were arrested.

The force said the two men have since been liaising with the CPS.

Meanwhile, the Drewitt-Barlow Stadium was meant to be used as a polling station during the local election yesterday, but voting was relocated.

Doug Wilkinson, Maldon District Council’s deputy returning officer, said the decision was made to relocate polling to Blackwater Leisure Centre instead ‘in light of an ongoing police investigation.’

ITV has now shelved a planned TV show about the football club co-owners called Up The Jammers.

The six-part series follows the pair in their pursuit to take the the Isthmian League North Division team ‘to the grand heights of the English Football League within four years,’ according to an earlier ITV press release.

Barrie Drewitt-Barlow said in the release: ‘We didn’t get into football to play it safe, we got into it to build something big, and ITV is the perfect platform to bring that story to life.

‘Nothing has been hidden. The pressure, the decisions, the ambition, the ups and downs, it’s all there. This is the reality of football ownership, unfiltered, and people are going to see exactly what it takes to try and take a club to the next level.’

ITV’s spokesperson confirmed today that it has decided to remove Up The Jammers from the upcoming schedule, and it won’t be airing on ITV4 or ITVX.

Both men, of Danbury, Essex, will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court at a later date.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Chef Jose Andres claims adding one ingredient to eggs makes the ‘best omelette in the history of mankind’ – and it’s a surprisingly simple recipe to try at home

Omelettes make a swift and straightforward meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, proving both delicious and satisfying at any hour.

Toppings such as onions, peppers, mushrooms, or small pieces of ham can be added, but one particular ingredient is certain to transform your omelette from pleasant to extraordinary. The only caveat is that it might appear slightly different from your typical flat omelette. However, provided it tastes delicious, does that really matter?

Chef Jose Andres, a Spanish-American chef and restaurateur, has dedicated himself to introducing the bold and vibrant tastes of Spain to a global audience. This recipe is no exception.

He claimed that preparing the omelette this way will produce the “best in the history of mankind,” which is a pretty bold claim!

Yet the secret ingredient isn’t milk or butter. It’s something likely already sitting in your cupboard or fridge.

It’s mayonnaise. Who would have imagined that a generous dollop of mayonnaise could elevate an omelette to new heights? According to Jose Andres, it absolutely does, and it’s definitely worth attempting in your own kitchen.

Simply place one egg and one large spoonful of mayonnaise into a ramekin dish, then add a small amount of oil or butter. Combine the ingredients thoroughly, and it’s ready to cook.

“Put it in the microwave for 30 to 40 seconds,” and what emerges will be “the best omelette”.

It certainly differed from a ‘normal’ omelette when @arranmtaylor sampled it himself, appearing considerably thicker and having clearly adopted the form of the container he’d heated it in.

He seasoned it with salt and pepper before tasting. Arran commented: “That’s pretty good,” giving it his stamp of approval.

Others similarly commended the recipe. One remarked: “I tried it, and it’s very good. Never would have thought. I put a little shredded cheese in mine and 2 eggs”.

Nevertheless, some weren’t convinced by the preparation method. One commented: “Microwaved eggs never taste as good”.

Should you share similar reservations about microwaving eggs, don’t worry. Another food enthusiast noted: “Using a microwave pretty much shut me down from this; however, I did the same mixture and cooked it in my pan per usual, and it was okay”.

So when you next fancy a speedy breakfast that’s rich and full of flavour, why not give this straightforward recipe a try.

New research published by the American Heart Association has identified 10 factors that may be linked to an increased risk of cognitive decline

Experts have identified 10 factors that could heighten your risk of developing dementia. A newly published report has shed light on some of the elements that can impact brain health.

It is estimated that nearly one million people across the UK are currently living with dementia. Most prevalent in those aged over 65, it can present itself through symptoms including memory loss, changes in behaviour, and difficulties with speech, amongst others.

While the precise cause of dementia remains unknown, research has demonstrated that certain lifestyle choices and medical conditions can elevate your risk of cognitive decline. A new report has now pinpointed 10 such contributing factors.

Published by the American Heart Association (AHA), the statement outlined 10 factors that can negatively affect the health of a person’s brain. These are:

• Early life infections
• Adverse childhood experiences
• Socioeconomic factors
• Chronic medical conditions
• Stress
• Anxiety and depression
• Pollution and environmental exposures
• Chronic inflammation
• Disruption of the gut microbiome (dysbiosis)
• Poor sleep quality

As reported by Medical News Today, these factors can impact the body in numerous ways, which in turn affects brain health. In light of the findings, researchers are urging governments to introduce policies aimed at tackling some of these issues. This encompasses tackling air pollution and enhancing air quality, as well as championing routine vaccination programmes to help individuals steer clear of infections that can harm brain health. Experts not involved in the research shared their thoughts on the significance of the findings.

Speaking to Medical News Today, Dung Trinh from MemorialCare Medical Group and Chief Medical Officer of the Healthy Brain Clinic, said: “The main takeaway is that brain health is not determined only by age or genetics.

“It is shaped across the entire lifespan by a combination of physical health, mental health, sleep, lifestyle, social support, environment, and access to care. The American Heart Association statement is important because it reframes brain health as something we can influence much earlier and more broadly than we used to think.”

Melinda Patterson, an assistant professor of neurology with the University of Rochester Medicine, added: “Many of the habits we think of as ‘heart healthy’ turn out to be ‘brain healthy’ too. This statement reinforces that idea, while also highlighting factors that do not always get enough attention in research or in everyday clinical care.

“One of the most important messages is that brain health is shaped across our entire lives and not just in old age. Experiences and choices made early in life can have a real impact decades later. That also means there is good news: no matter what stage of life you are in, there are steps you can take to lower your risk of stroke and cognitive decline.”

Supporting research

These findings are backed up by a landmark report published by The Lancet in 2024. The study revealed that approximately 45 per cent of all dementia cases could be prevented through certain lifestyle changes.

It also identified 14 risk factors for dementia. These were:

• Less education
• Hearing loss
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Depression
• Physical inactivity
• Diabetes
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Traumatic brain injury
• Air pollution
• Social isolation
• Untreated vision loss
• High cholesterol

If you or someone you know is showing signs of dementia, you should consult a GP.

A mum who says the UK is ‘becoming racist’ has vowed to ditch Britain for Bali by the end of the year.

Beth Ware, 28, said she doesn’t want her children to grow up in an ‘environment that promotes so much hatred’.

Her comments come as this year’s local election results are announced, showing early signs of promise for Reform UK – something Ware blames for an ‘increase in hostility’ she claims to have noticed gripping the country.

Beth, who lives in Kent, said: ‘The UK is becoming racist.

‘I know that racism has been around for a very long time in the UK, and I feel so sorry for people who have experienced it more under the radar, but now it’s a lot more out in the open and people are feeling ok to make these kinds of comments.

‘I regularly see posts in my area of people warning about ‘mixing of breeding’, ‘mixing ethnicities’ and how white British people soon won’t be white.’

The mum-of-two, whose children are mixed race, finds this change particularly concerning.

‘As a mother of mixed children, that language is so frightening, and it’s just not something I would expect to hear in 2026 whatsoever,’ she added.

Ware, a mindset coach, says she ‘knows she can’t bubble wrap her children’ and that ‘racism exists everywhere’. ‘But I really want to get out before it could possibly become like the USA.’

She has now begun liquidating her assets and has started reaching out to hotels and resorts on the Indonesian island in search of work.

Ware’s decision to leave the country comes as votes in the local, Scottish and Welsh elections are counted.

With Labour looking set to suffer catastrophic losses, Nigel Farage’s Party is expected to be the main beneficiary in the largest test for Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership since the entire country went to the polls back in 2024.

Beth is concerned not only about Reform’s immigration policies, but also comments made by former Reform candidate Matt Goodwin in favour of a ‘negative child benefit tax’ on adults who do not have children.

Though not reflective of official Reform policy, Goodwin’s comments proved controversial during his ultimately unsuccessful by-election campaign in Gorton and Denton earlier this year.

The Party has also outlined plans to scrap the Equality Act and reimpose the two-child benefit cap.

‘One thing is the racism that Reform is promoting, but the other thing is that they are looking to start teaching girls at a young age the importance of having children early,’ Ware added.

‘That’s so scary to me, that’s giving The Handmaid’s Tale, the fact that they are looking at taxing women more who don’t have children.’

She added: ‘I’m very proud to be British. I have generations and generations of very noble British men, British women, but the problem is I feel the flag is being used as a weapon.’

Reform UK has been contacted for comment.

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