A campaign run by the Essex Chronicle in support of Chelmsford’s bid for city status has been given the “royal” seal of approval.

On the face of it, Chelmsford has already won city status as pictured on the front page of this week’s Chronicle is a picture of the “Queen” holding a campaign poster.

But appearances can be deceptive, as the picture is actually Queen lookalike Jeanette Charles.

The Chronicle is just one of a number of companies backing Britain’s oldest town’s bid to become the nation’s newest city.

Chelmsford Council is preparing its third bid for next year when one town in England will be awarded city status to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

It previously lost out to Brighton and Hove, Inverness and Wolverhampton, to be named one of Britain’s Millennium cities.