Have you considered BeBuzz? It allows you to set colour to your alerts and they flash until you pick up the message. They have a free version.
I actually don't even remember how the native notifications go. BeBuzz is one of the first things I get.
Thanks, I'll have a look at BeBuzz.
I don't actually have a problem with the native notifications, was just curious as to why my gf's torch was flashing, but mine wasn't.