Essex wants Dame Helen bank holiday

Council chiefs in Essex want a county-wide Bank Holiday in honour of their Queen - Dame Helen Mirren.

Lord Hanningfield, leader of Essex County Council, is asking for the annual occasion to mark her winning the Best Actress Oscar. She was born in Leigh-on-Sea and went to school in Southend, both in the county.

He commented: "Helen Mirren is a great ambassador for Essex and we want to celebrate her tremendous achievement in winning an Oscar.

"Ditch the old stereotypes - Dame Helen is the perfect example of the hotbed of talent we have in Essex that anyone who visits our county can see. To celebrate this achievement I will therefore be asking the Government whether they will allow us the power to designate a holiday in her honour throughout Essex."

Dame Helen paid tribute to her home when she accepted the award for her appearance in The Queen. She joked: "I never expected this to happen to me, a girl from Essex."