"I'm one of UK's last tea leaf readers - I predict the ancient art could die out"

Michele Liddle, 41, comes from a family of tea leaf readers with her mother, gran and two great-grans' all touched with the paranormal gift.

Since becoming a professional reader herself in 2015, Michele has helped people predict new jobs, pregnancies and future relationships.

The art - which originated in ancient China - involves interpreting the patterns, shapes and symbols formed by loose tea leaves left in a cup.

The intricate patterns may help answer difficult questions or predict future events.

Michele, from Amble, is launching tea leaf reading workshops in a bid to teach the next generation of fortune tellers.

She said: “I really fear that this ancient art is dying out because no one is prepared to learn the skills.

“People talk about it on TikTok but we don’t talk about it at home anymore.

“We used to have conversations with our grandparents and have tea and biscuits and talk about tea leaves.

“People don’t talk about it anymore, we’re focusing on different things.

“Women used to stay at home and read their leaves for fun, but that doesn’t happen often at all now.

"I know a few people who do it, but most people I speak to said their gran used to do it.

“I don’t think many people are interested in it any more which is a real shame.”

Michele, who has two step-children, was taught the past time from her mum Pat.

She said: “My mum taught me how to do it when I was younger.

“When my grandad passed away in 2015 I started to get back into my spirituality again.

“I learnt the meanings behind things.

“My grandmother taught my mum so we have that side, but then on my dad’s side, my other grandmother used to do tea leaf readings, so it goes back all the way down both families.

“We used to go to seances and do other spooky stuff together.

"I’ve seen spirits since I was born so it’s not unusual to me.”

Michele charges £67 for an online reading and follows a strict set of rules to achieve her results.

Before interpreting the leaves, she stirs the tea three times, flips the cup and turns it clockwise three times before tapping it three times.

She says the best tea to use is loose Earl Grey but any flavour or brand can be used.

Despite sceptics, Michele says she's regularly predicted unknown pregnancies, relationship changes, marriages and pay increases.

She said: “The rim of the cup is your present.

“The middle bit of the cup is your future, with bits happening in the next weeks or months, and then the bottom is your far future.

“You pay attention to each side of the cup, you read it top to bottom. The tea can gather and it can look like a cross or a bird.

“Each person will see something different which is interesting. It’s like looking at clouds.

“The ones that are always surprising are when you see a child and the person doesn’t think they’re pregnant.

“When you see a baby they always say ‘Oh no, that’s not accurate’. It happens more than you expect.

“One time a person came with a new job opportunity and the leaves gave them a choice of one of the routes.

"Moments like that are incredibly powerful. You're not only 'predicting' something, but because you're helping someone recognise what they already feel deep down.

“I also do tarot card readings, but they’re mainly for myself. I always do cards for myself daily, I treat it as meditation.

"It's normal for people to be sceptical. One of my biggest sceptics is my husband but I always say to people, judge me on my readings.”

In an effort to save the lost art, Michele is opening her Northumberland Haunted Museum where she will host tea leaf workshops.

Michele added: “I’ll be doing live workshops so people can learn how to do it themselves, I’ll teach you. It can be quite complicated.

“I think if people like me don’t go out and teach people about tea leaf reading, the art will just die off which would be a real tragedy.”