A brave ME sufferer has sparked an online trend to raise awareness of the illness.

While many of us would not dream of putting unflattering photos on the web, pretty Olivia Cole is doing just that so people can see how ill she looks without makeup.

The 16-year-old, of Heybridge, is just one of the 250,000 people in the UK affected by Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, also known as CFS - chronic fatigue syndrome.

She said: “I’ve been ill since the age of 11."

By sharing her story for ME Awareness Month, Olivia hopes to help others understand what it is like to live with ME.

See the Maldon and Burnham Standard for more on Olivia's CFS Selfies project.