The literary world is buzzing in 2015 with Harry Potter Book Night, the Essex Book Festival and World Book Night due to take place in the next few months.

In more recent literary news, Harper Lee author of, To Kill A Mockingbird, has revealed she is releasing a sequel to the American classic.

After 55 years of silence and at the grand old age of 88, Lee is to reveal to the world Go Set a Watchman, which will re-introduce us to the lives of Atticus and Scout.

It has been a literary must-read in schools and colleges alike, epitomising the racial struggles at the time of the Great Depression in America.

If we had to guess which books would have a sequel published, I doubt it would have been at the top of the list.

A question starts to present itself, if you could request a sequel to your favourite book, which one would it be?

We are interested to discover what books are at the top of the list amongst the people of Essex. So get tweeting @EssexChronicle or let us know by commenting on our facebook page.

A TRAILBLAZING aviation engineer and politician, described as an "absolute gale force", has died aged 91.

Baroness Beryl Platt of Writtle died at a nursing home in Hertfordshire on Sunday near the home of her daughter, Vicky Davies.

Beryl was born Beryl Catherine Myatt in Leigh-on-Sea on April 18, 1923 and attended Westcliff High School.

She read huge tomes and used her all-guns-blazing character to convince her parents to pay for university education after they initially resisted.

She was going to read maths at Cambridge but changed to aeronautical engineering – making her one of the first women to do so – after the Government announced a state bursary to engineering undergraduates.

Graduating in 1943, she worked for Hawker Aircraft Company, working on their Hurricane, Typhoon and Tempest fighter planes.

Despite chief designer Sidney Camm offering her a permanent role after the war, she left to work in aviation safety for British European Airways.

She married her late husband Stewart in 1949 at St Michael's Church in Leigh-on-Sea and gave birth two years later to Roland.

Vicky was born in 1953, before the family made Writtle their home later that year.

After realising there wasn't much need for aeronautical engineers in the small Essex village, she decided to pursue a career in local government.

As chairman of Essex County Council's education committee between 1971 and 1980, she rose to vice-chairman of the authority between 1980 and 1983.

She was made a life peer by Margaret Thatcher in 1981 and in May 1983 she was appointed chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission. She remained in that post until 1988.

Beryl was also a prominent campaigner for careers in science and technology for women.

Her daughter Mrs Davies, 61, said: "She was an absolute gale force, a totally feisty and energetic woman. She only knew one mode of living and that was full steam ahead.

"She was always a very hard worker and that was something she liked to impose on me and my older brother Roland. She was the first girl to pass with distinction in her matriculation at school."

Her children nicknamed the grandmother-of-six "The Battle of the Republic" for her straightforward, combative nature, but her outlook on life was likely a reflection of the adversity she overcame in her youth.

Mrs Davies continued: "Her parents died quite young; her father succumbed to lung cancer and her mother committed suicide, so she and her brother James were very loyal to each other.

"She became a devoted Christian and didn't allow herself to get distracted by friends. She believed that hard work was a one-way ticket to success.

"She wanted to change people's attitudes to women. She lived just long enough to see the first woman bishop appointed to the Church of England, which delighted her.

"She was instrumental in transforming the Longmeads community centre in Writtle and delivered a lot of speeches to schools around the county. She was a real Essex girl – just without the white stilettos."

The influential councillor would enjoy family holidays to Walton-on-the-Naze and Maldon for a spot of summer sailing with Stewart, Roland and Vicky.

She died after contracting gangrene shortly after Christmas.

Mrs Davies added: "She might have been in pain but we would never have known; she was made of such stern stuff."

The family warmly invites Writtle residents and friends to the Baroness's funeral at All Saints Church in Writtle on Wednesday, February 11 at 11am. A lunch at Hylands House will follow the service.

A MOTHER told police she was raped by a 23-year-old Romanian clubber after waking up mysteriously covered in bruising, a court heard.

The 45-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claims Alin Calinciuc dragged her away from a Chelmsford nightclub back to his bedroom and forced her to have sex.

Calinciuc, a gardener from Manor Road, in Old Moulsham, Chelmsford, entered the dock in Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday for the start of an estimated five-day trial.

Prosecutor Noel Casey opened his case by explaining the woman was in Chicago's nightclub, in Moulsham Street, on Monday, August 5, 2013, when she became very drunk and separated from her friend.

Mr Casey said the woman, who is from Harlow, woke up the next day in a dingy bedroom with a man she initially thought was Polish – and with no memory of leaving the club.

Later that day she told her GP her vagina was sore and complained of bruising to her lips, arms, thighs, lower legs and shoulder.

The jury was also read text messages the woman sent to her friend, claiming she felt "strange and violated".

After her friend persuaded her to report the incident to police that day, Calinciuc, who is now 24, was arrested on Saturday, August 10, and charged in May 2014.

In police interviews, however, Calinciuc said the woman consented.

Under cross-examination by defence barrister Jacqueline Carey, the woman struggled to explain why Calinciuc had her phone number and why she could be seen on CCTV dancing with him in the nightclub.

The pair can be seen dancing together and their heads "moving towards each other" at 1.24am, in the smoking area outside at 1.26am and leaving hand-in-hand walking towards Old Moulsham at 1.50am.

"At no stage there are you being dragged or pulled," said barrister Ms Carey.

"You're walking off together, perfectly happy and perfectly consensually."

Ms Carey also told jurors the woman admitted to a police officer on Tuesday, January 20, this year that she remembered being dragged away from the club, but was struggling to distinguish this from a dream.

Calinciuc denies the single charge of rape.

The trial continues.

A POPULAR vicar addressed his flock for the last time after eight years at the helm of St Mary The Virgin Church in Maldon.

Father Louis Darrant, 37, has served the Church of England parish since 2007 and last Sunday held an evensong to say goodbye.

His final speech was entitled A Celebration Of The Sacred And The Secular and featured performances by Maldon's mac theatre, sea shanty group Salt Water & Beer, and the Maldon Green Jackets Morris dancers.

Father Louis said: "It was an amazing evening, it took a lot to process the evening afterwards.

"I couldn't believe how many people turned up. I didn't realise how much people thought of me and last night was the icing on the cake.

"This was the first time that I had my own parish and I grew up a lot here, in fact I probably have a bit more growing up to do, but it has been amazing."

Father Louis capped the evening song by performing a rendition of the folk classic The Parting Glass, and received an engraved silver jug.

The service was followed by drinks in The Queen's Head on Hythe Quay.

Father Louis, who is also a duty chaplain at Westminster Abbey, started off his career as a trainee priest in Brixton before moving to take charge at St Mary's.

Bullied at school for being gay, Father Darrant was a strong advocate for the Marriage (Same Sex Couples Bill) Act which was given royal assent in August 2013.

And after so many good years serving Maldon, Father Louis says that there has been "so many highlights" during his tenure.

He said: "I'll always remember having lunch with the Queen when she was here. It was incredible: she had a powerful, yet gentle air about her.

"I always really enjoyed Plough Monday and the celebrations before and afterwards. This year was amazing particularly since I was Molly maid, which was an honour.

"I also went to Malta with Maldon Rugby Club, which was fantastic."

Father Louis, who says he will remain a registered priest, now plans to have some time out to go travelling and help out with homeless charities.

"It would be fair to say that I have fallen in love with the place and even though I am excited about the future I leave with a heavy heart," he added.

Valentine's Day will mark the 10th anniversary of video sharing platform YouTube.

Since the launch in 2005, YouTube has accumulated millions of loyal fans and now sees more than one billion unique users each month.

To celebrate its unrivalled success, we have comprised our own top 10 videos from recent Essex Chronicle history.

1. The River rescue. A bystander captured the moment Terry Skingle was rescued by Co-op workers after he drove his car into the River Can in Chelmsford on December 4, 2013.

3. Slappy Dappy. Essex Police released CCTV footage of the moment pop star Dappy slapped clubber George Chittock in Chicago's in Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, in the early hours of Thursday, February 27.

5. Man who attacked mosque makes peace. Reporter Chris Dyer filmed discussions between convicted Braintree criminal Geoff Ryan and local Muslims.

6. The street light switch off. Several readers filmed the moment most street lights were switched off in Chelmsford on September 1, 2013

7. 4x4 Parkway subway crash. Our photographer Chris Rushton compiled a video montage of the moments after a woman drove a 4x4 into a subway at the junction of Parkway and New London Road in Chelmsford in May 2013.

8. Convicted sex offender GP slaps reporter's camera. Olakunle Arowojolu slapped the camera as he left Chelmsford Crown Court shortly before he was found guilty in October 2014 of assaulting a woman at a Chelmsford 24/7 NHS centre.

10. Happy school. Alec Hunter Academy released a spoof video of Pharrell Williams' song "Happy" with it's Year 11 leavers in July 2014.

The first of 118 refreshed intercity carriages carrying commuters from Norwich to London came into service this week.

This Monday (February 2) saw the entry into service of the first refreshed intercity Mk3 carriages on the Great Eastern Main Line stopping at Chelmsford en route between Norwich and London.

This signifies the first milestone in a £12 million investment programme which covers both standard and First Class carriages.

Some of the improvements include new plug points, new LED lighting, new carpets new tables, new seat covers, upgraded environmentally-friendly controlled emission toilets with new floors and new taps, re-painting of the carriage interior saloon and vestibule panels, walls and ceilings, and external re-painting.

It is expected that the first full set of carriages should be in service at the start of May and the full project is due to be completed by the end of our franchise in October 2016.

Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs, said: "It is good news for customers and the region and should herald the start of a decade of improvements on the Great Eastern Main Line."

Chelmsford-based technology company e2v held a special World Cancer Day event at its HQ yesterday with presentations and tours highlighting the good work they do to battle the disease.

e2v is known for its involvement in space technology, most recently with the Rosetta Space Mission, which successfully landed on a comet in November 2014.

But they are also heavily involved in the medical market, with over 90% of all radiotherapy machines across the globe containing e2v's technology.

In fact, every two minutes someone in the world receives cancer treatment using technology built at e2v's facility in Chelmsford.

And e2v, to raise awareness of the treatment and work carried out by people across the globe, held a day of activities.

They included presentations from employees on the benefits of e2v's technology in the fight against cancer and tours of e2v's facilities, where guests were given the opportunity to see e2v products being made and to talk to the people who make them.

Ewan Livingstone, President of e2v's RF Power Medical business unit said: "The customer is at the heart of everything that we do here at e2v and producing innovative products for the fight against cancer is something that we are privileged to be involved in.

"Today we wanted to bring together people from across the field of cancer treatment - engineers, medical staff, care workers and charities - to show how we are all working together to help rid us of this vicious disease.

"Along the way we aim to bring hope to those affected either directly or indirectly by cancer, and show that the fight against cancer is not beyond us."

Over 30 guests attended, including the Mayor of Chelmsford, the Chairman and Leader of Essex County Council, the Leader of Chelmsford City Council, 16 ward councillors, a radiographer and a doctor from Colchester Hospital and representatives from local charities.

Macmillan volunteer Liam DeRoe spoke about how the Macmillan charity supports patients on a daily basis. 

The Countryways team at Chelmsford City Council have achieved all targets this winter and have successfully completed the full programme of maintaining the city's country footpaths, much to the approval of local residents.

The City Council undertook a cutting programme of the overgrowing vegetation since early September 2014. The Leader of the Council, Councillor Roy Whitehead wants to give praise to the team responsible for achieving the work, "The Council has a responsibility for protecting the character and beauty of our countryside and to maximise this asset for all of our residents and visitors.  The team has limited resources and have braved sometimes difficult weather to ensure all areas identified have been maintained."

Cabinet Member for Parks & Leisure, Councillor Ray Ride says, "One of the Council's priorities is promoting healthy living.  To be able to create accessible areas within our countryside and along our historic footpaths provide superb alternative walking, cycling and riding open spaces for our residents."

Chelmsford resident, Fiona Everett regularly enjoys riding her horse along the bridle path within Chelmsford's countryside and appreciates the work that has been done, "I have been riding Chelmsford's pathways and bridle paths for 35 years and it is important for me and other users that the paths are maintained and easily accessible.  It's so lovely getting out into the fresh air and I confidently encourage friends to join me."

The Council will continue to protect these open spaces and will ensure that a wider network of footpaths connect the city's parks to its beautiful countryside.

A Chelmsford pub is readying for battle as it takes on ten other taverns in Sky One's new reality television show Quiz Nights.

The Rose and Crown's Radio Faces will compete against the brightest pub teams from across the country in what is being described as a quintessentially British, hilarious new programme.

Including egg heads from Manchester, Liverpool and London, the first show airs tomorrow night (February 6) at 10pm on Sky One.

The eight-part series follows a cross- section of the UK's pub quiz teams deliberating, squabbling and laughing as they search for right and wrong answers.

This fly-on-the-wall Firecracker Films production observes teams answering identical questions at the same time to win the highly-coveted Golden Tankard, and be crowned the Quiz Nights champion.

The programme follows a different pub team each week, but as the series continues more teams and pubs will be introduced.

Join the teams in episode one, and play along to see who knows what Britain's most hated food is? Or who has been in a relationship with both Sinitta and Gwyneth?

Let us know how you get on via our Facebook page, or on Twitter @EssexChronicle.

Tutti Grille at Freeport Braintree is taking part in National Doodle Day to raise much-needed funds for Epilepsy Action on 6 February.

Diners will be offered the chance to 'do a doodle' and for each doodle received the restaurant will be kindly donating £1 for charity. Tutti is also accepting doodles via their Facebook page and Twitter.

Organising the fundraiser is Rob Reeley, Managing Director, Tutti Grille. He says: "National Doodle Day is a great way for everyone to show their creative side and raise much-needed funds for a really good cause."

National Doodle Day is a nationwide fundraising event which is owned by, and raises money for, Epilepsy Action. The charity supports the 600,000 people in the UK living with epilepsy.

St John Ambulance is offering people the chance to nominate loved ones and friends who have used first aid to save someone's life.

Everyday Heroes is a special awards programme celebrating the incredible stories of ordinary people who have saved a life or who have championed the first aid cause in communities.

If you know someone, or an organisation, which deserves recognition, you can nominate your everyday hero from now until Saturday, February 28.

The achievements of successful nominees will be celebrated with an unforgettable awards ceremony on Wednesday, July, 1 at the Lancaster London Hotel.

For more information, or to register a vote, visit www.sja.org.uk/everydayheroes.

THE veterans singles at 2015 M&G Investments Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Championships went with the seedings.

The four top-seeded players fought out the semi finals. The final will be contested between the favourite and three times winner Rik James and second seed and four times champion Dave Cole.

Waseem Qureshi produced the shock of the event by beating the seeded John Poysden 13-15, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 12-10 before missing out 7-11, 3-11, 11-5, 8-11 to Steve Kerns.

James beat Ian Whiteside 13-11, 11-6, 11-9, Peter Hayden 4-11, 11-9, 14-12, 11-5 after a real tussle and then Kerns 12-10, 8-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5. Cole looked to be playing really well as he eased past Adam Buxton 12-10, 11-8, 11-8 then Hamish Innes 11-5, 11-5, 11-9 and then Gary Young 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-2.

Young and Kerns became the veterans doubles champion for a third successive year. They beat Steve Siggs and Dave Moles (3-0) and then Steve Whiteley and Ian Whiteside (3-0) and they produced a fine controlled display to beat Cole and James 11-7, 6-11, 11-5, 11-3 in the final.

Cole and James beat Hayden and Buxton 11-5, 10-12, 12-10, 11-5 in a fast and furious semi-final encounter.

John Poysden won his first Chelmsford title by annexing the Over 50s Singles crown. Dave Moles scored a real upset win when he beat Ian Whiteside 11-9, 11- 13, 11-8, 11-9 and he then held match-point against third seed Hamish Innes before succumbing 10-12, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 10-12. Innes eventually missed out in four ends against Steve Kerns 5-11, 13-15, 11-7, 3-11 in the semi-final. In the other half of the draw John Poysden beat Charles Yeung 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 and then Chris Jacob 11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5. The final was a fluctuating affair but the fifth end became something of a procession as John Poysden ran away with it to defeat Steve Kerns 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-3 to claim the title.

Top-seeded John Holland became the Over 60s Champion for the fourth time. Holland eased past Colin Barham (3-0), Chris Jacob (13-11, 11-8, 12-10) and he beat Steve Whiteley 11-4, 8-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-1 in a widely fluctuating five game final. Steve Whiteley had beaten Hamish Innes 7-11, 13-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7 in a very keenly contested semi final, the best match of this event. Chris Jacob had earlier defeated Ian Whiteside 3-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-8.

The Under 21 Singles Final will be a repeat of last year's final night encounter. Scott Dowsett will face his doubles partner Brandon Crouchman. Scott had the tougher semi final. He was stretched to beat Sidney Dorn 11-8, 11-5, 9- 11, 11-6 whilst Brandon Crouchman raced through his two games seeing off Wiktor Delimat and Ryan Gooday both 3-0.

Ryan Gooday excelled to win the Under 16s Singles. He beat top seed Sidney Dorn 8-11, 11-2,12-14, 9-11, 11-7 in a thrilling and well contested final. Both players had won their semi final matches 3-0. Sidney Dorn beat James Hughes whilst Ryan Gooday saw off Patrick Bugg.

Ryan Gooday made it a double cause for celebration on the Saturday by beating Peter Windley 11-4, 11-5, 13-11 to take the Junior Boys Singles title. Both players faced some anxious moments in their semi final matches. Windley needed five games to beat Chris Denyer 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-4 whilst Ryan Gooday dropped an end against the very promising Cameron Gray before he won 11-6, 11- 6, 10-12, 11-7.

Matthew Elliott is the 2015 Under 14 Singles Champion. He scored two well executed wins after qualifying form his group. He beat Harry Rogers 14-12, 13-11, 11-6 and James Hughes in the final 11-6, 11-6, 11-6. James Hughes booked his final appearance by beating Tom Picton 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 13-11 in the semi final.

There was an upset of sorts in the Junior Doubles. Team-mates Peter Windley and Daniel Berry scored a fine four games win in the final to beat top seeds, Ryan Gooday and Sidney Dorn 11-7, 5-11, 11-4, 11-3. They had required five ends to beat Cameron Gray and George Ashley 11-6, 6-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-3 a round earlier.

Gooday and Dorn had beaten Chris Denyer and Jamie Brooks 3-0 at the same stage.

Sarah Austin, the star of the Ladies Singles became Junior Girls Champion for the fifth time. She beat Emily Wood 11-8, 11-8, 11-9 in a well contested final.

Peter Windley added a second title to go with his Junior Doubles success by picking up the Junior Handicap Singles. He beat Tom Picton (3-1), Cameron Gray (3-2), Sidney Dorn (3-1) and in the final he defeated Sarah Austin (3-1). Sarah Austin knocked out Alex Headley (3-0), Daniel Berry (3-0) and James Brooks (3- 1).

Sunday's play was dominated by the four divisional singles competitions which pleasingly included a much increased entry. Top seed Waseem Qureshi retained his division two title and in the process became the first three time champion. He had to do it the hard way beating the very inform Ryan Gooday twice, in the group stages and in the final. Group seven produced the closest finish in league history. Mike Johnston, Neil Freeman and Chris Hancox finished tied at one win apiece and Johnston emerged the winner on count-back with a points record of 93-92 with Hancox (94-94) placed second and the luckless Freeman (101-102) eliminated. All-round player Qureshi stormed through to the final beating Chris Denyer (11-5, 11-4, 11-7) and Daniel Berry (11-8, 11-9, 12-10) and in the final he eclipsed Ryan Gooday 11-5, 3-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-4. Ryan Gooday impressed greatly. He beat Graham Briggs 15-13, 11-7, 11-9, then Tony Hallett 11-9, 15-13, 11-7 and best of all second seed Steve Whiteley 11-9, 13-11, 2-11, 11-9. Whitely complimented Gooday afterwards: "He just never stopped going for his shots and the one he played at 10-8 was unbelievable - I thought I had won the rally at least three times."

With such an impressive showing in the Division Two Singles you might have expected Ryan Gooday to dominate in the division three event as well. It didn't work out that way. Gooday ran into the ever determined figure of Tom Elder in the semi final and Elder ran out a five game winner: 5-11, 11-2, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8. Another ace defender Brian Riedling dominated the other half of the draw. He beat David Gatherall (11-7, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7), then Neil Gooday (11-5, 11-6, 11-7) and then Neil Freeman by a very tight 12-10, 11-8, 12-10 margin and Brian Riedling claimed the title by beating Tom Elder 13-11, 11-8,11-7 in a well contested final.

The Division Four Singles final was contested by the top two seeds, Colin Napper and Peter Windley and it was second seed Peter Windley who took the title. He beat Steve Siggs (6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9) and Dave Moles (11-8, 13- 11, 11-6) and in the semi final he saw off Ciaran Whelan in five ends: 11-5, 8- 11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-7. The final was also a close fought affair and Peter Windley defeated Colin Napper 12-10, 11-9, 4-11, 11-7 to be crowned champion.

Daniel Richardson is the Division Five Singles Champion and he had to overcome three determined adversaries to win the event. It took him four games to get the better of Adam Pitt (11-13, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2) and the full five games to get the better of Daniel Anderson (11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8) and the final against George Ashley was also hard-fought. Daniel Richardson had to dig deep to win 11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 12-10. 

Recent research shows that E-cigarettes generate toxic chemicals similar to tobacco, create vaping fumes and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections.

Following a two week study on mice, it was discovered that the vaping fumes caused damage to the lungs. Their immune responses to bacteria and viruses were weakened and some animals even died as a result.

At John Hopkins University, Professor Shyam Biswai, led the research and said: "Our findings suggest that e-cigarettes are not neutral in terms of the effects on the lungs.

"This warrants further study in susceptible individuals, such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) patients who have switched from cigarettes to E-cigarettes, or to new users of E-cigarettes who may have never used cigarettes."

It has been emphasised that it is nearly 100 times lower in toxins than cigarette smoke, but the high number of free radicals is still enough to damage cells. 

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, will be making an official visit to Essex on Tuesday, March 17 as he visits the Stow Maries Aerodrome in Chelmsford.

The 50-year-old plans to explore the new museum at Europe's largest surviving First World War Aerodrome as well as the officers' mess.

Essex County Council's Lord Lieutenant, Lord Petre, who is the Queen's royal representative in Essex, originally bid for the royal visit last autumn.

But the council has now confirmed the visit will take place next month. 

The frequently congested Springfield Road has been voted the most hated road in Chelmsford city centre.

We asked you to name your most hated road and 314 of you voted in our poll.

Thirty three per cent plumped for the single-lane Springfield Road, which runs between Tesco supermarket in Bond Street and the roundabout by Wickes about 1.6 miles north.

Twenty four per cent voted for Parkway and 45 per cent voted "other".

Readers cited other troublesome roads, which were not suggested in our poll, on our Facebook page.

These included Baddow Road, Broomfield Road and Waterhouse Lane.

Which road in Chelmsford city centre do you hate most?

We asked readers to name their least favourite road after Essex County Council highways boss Rodney Bass announced there would be a consultation into a potential one-way system for central Chelmsford.

Rumour suggests one-way traffic could one-day dominate Springfield Road, High Bridge Road and Victoria Road.

AN £8 million refit of Stansted's departures lounge will see new seating, refurbished toilets, free mobile phone charging points and improved Wi-Fi, in a bid to get more passengers and airlines into the airport.

London Stansted has announced the next phase of its airport redevelopment, that will include an upgrade of its Satellite One departure gate area.

These details were unveiled at the Future Travel Experience aviation industry conference in central London, by the Airport's Managing Director, Andrew Harrison, who outlined owners Manchester Airports Group's (MAG) vision to transform at Stansted by rejuvenating the areas most used by passengers.

Andrew Harrison, managing director of Stansted Airport, said: "These are really exciting times and will be a significant turning point in the airport's history.

"Having successfully returned Stansted to growth, making it once again London's fastest growing airport, we're driving forward our ambition to attract a greater mix of airlines, including long-haul connections to serve our region and the London to Stansted to Cambridge economic growth corridor."

This £8 million redevelopment is part of a wider £260million investment and the airport bosses see this as a way to attract more passengers, airlines and long-haul services.

The multi-million pound upgrade of Satellite One will not only make the area sleek, modern and contemporary in style but provide enhanced passenger facilities in the form of comfortable lifestyle seating, fully refurbished toilets as well as free charging points and improved Wi-Fi.

Space is also being set aside for bespoke lounge areas to be developed so that different airlines can have their own individual facilities for their passengers.

"The value of these investments isn't just about how much is being spent, it's the focus being placed on delivering designs and facilities that work for both our passengers and airline partners because the money we spend has to represent value for both," added Mr Harrison.

"I'm really excited and looking forward to this time next year when this phase of re-development will be completed and our passengers can fully experience how Stansted is changing because this is just the beginning."

Design plans for the airport's new Escape Lounge have also been unveiled, which will be the first lounge in the main departures area in the airport's 24-year history.

Progress has also been made in the past year with the £80m transformation of the terminal building.

Phase one of the brand new departure lounge with its flagship entrance through the world's biggest World Duty Free Store.

It is expected the new cafes, bars and restaurants will open by this spring, including many firsts, not just for Stansted Airport, but the travel industry too.

The businesses that have made successful tenders for the remaining 18 retail outlets will be announced in the coming months.  

CHELMSFORD City Council will step in to help find 78 people new jobs following the controversial announcement that a popular two-storey Tesco Homeplus will close.

The supermarket giant last week revealed that the Parkway store and a Tesco Express in Heybridge, which hires a further 22 people, will close on Sunday, March 15 due to falling profit margins.

The firm faced a barrage of abuse on the Chronicle's Facebook page as several employees claimed they were not told they could be jobless before the announcement was made.

Councillor Neil Gulliver, Chelmsford City Council cabinet member for planning and economic development, said: "It's not been handled well if that is the case. I am surprised. I thought for an organisation the size of Tesco they would have handled it better.

"I will speak to the city council economic development team and we will do our best as we did with the Britvic closure to help people into work as much as possible.

"They would approach the management there and work with the other parties to see what the requirements are with those staff.

"I have not had complaints to me, but if their first knowledge that they have lost their job came from media then they, Tesco, haven't done their job properly."

The Chronicle understands that the retailer was unable to inform some employees of the store closure who had not worked for the company recently or had altered their contact details.

The mid-Essex stores are two of 43 closing nationwide, revealed on Wednesday last week, which Tesco deems unprofitable.

"It's not so much a loss of a business that's sad, it's the loss for the people who have lost their jobs," said Cllr Gulliver.

"I don't think the Homeplus store has ever been commercially successful for Tesco from what I have been advised."

Cllr Gulliver said another "major retailer" had already shown interest in renting the land.

Tesco Homeplus customer Mandy Parkhurst said it was "disgraceful" that her friend who worked at the store discovered the news through Facebook.

She added: "The staff should have been made well aware before the media."

A spokesman for the city council, which held a job fair at Britvic when the soft drinks firm announced the Chelmsford factory was closing, said: "We understand that Tesco will be making every effort to redeploy the staff affected by these job losses."

He added: "We are liaising with Jobcentre Plus, whose Response to Redundancy Team has made contact with Tesco and have offered to provide local support if required."

A STUDENT is hoping to take the fashion world by storm next month when she takes to the Top Model UK catwalk.

Magdalena Brzostowska, 25, who attends Anglia Ruskin University, landed a place in the competition's London final after impressing a panel of four judges at her Shoreditch interview in October.

The aspiring model lives in Victoria Court, Chelmsford, with her boyfriend Bobby and revealed she had never actually modelled before her bikini audition in the capital.

She said: "At the interview I was really, really nervous as I've never done modelling before in my life. But when they voted me through I was so surprised; I didn't expect it at all.

"I originally applied for the competition because I've always been interested in fashion, but I never in my wildest dreams expected to get to the final."

Magdalena, who is also a supervisor at Prezzo in Bond Street, will be facing off against 28 other women in the over 25s category at the Hilton Metropole event on Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14.

Magda, who is two years into her accounting and finance course at the university, moved to the city two years ago after trading Poland for London in 2010.

She hopes to raise more than £1,000 for the charity Children with Cancer, highlighting her wish to support a cause which she feels deserves the attention of a wider audience.

She said: "I think it's really important to help children make it through such a horrible disease.

"I cannot think of anything worse a parent can go through and if I can raise just enough to help one child, I will be happy that I have helped.

"Top Model UK is donating proceeds from the public vote to them as well."

The winner of the competition will be awarded professional catwalk training as well as various photo-shoot opportunities.

However, any winner of the seven main categories will also be considered for a chance to strut their stuff at London Fashion Week if they showcase exceptional talent.

Magda added: "My friends and family are all really supportive; I'm just looking forward to it now.

"My favourite model is Cara Delevingne, I think she's amazing. If I win I'd like to go into modelling full-time and work for Gucci."

To help Magda reach her fundraising target, visit www.topmodeluk.com