She was the 18th century celebrity who made men faint in awe of her beauty by her very presence. But her beauty - and her vanity - led to her demise as the lead-based make-up she insisted on plastering on daily resulted first in the loss of her looks, then deadly blood poisoning. Now the grand 7ft mirror in which Maria Gunning, the former Countess of Coventry, admired her stunning reflection has been auctioned off for more than £300,000. Labelled the first victim of vanity, Maria died aged 27 in 1760 after her love of make-up resulted in her untimely death. The 253-year-old mirror sold well above its estimate even though her condition meant she the society hostess used it for a matter of just months. A glorious George II giltwood overmantel design, it was bought for her by her husband The Sixth Earl of Coventry in 1759, who is said to have been so frustrated by his wife's love of make up that he would chase her around the dinner table with a handkerchief, trying wipe it from her face.
SOARING through the air, this is the moment a hungry tawny owl arrives home with dinner .
A mum-of-two, who was scarred for life in a brutal attack at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, is now urging others to leave their abusive partners .
A SHOCKING cartoon of a black man carrying bags saying‘’zippadydoohdah zip-up immigrant bags’ has appeared in a shop window and is being investigated by police .
An adorable little squirrel wakes from a nap and pops out his tongue for the camera .
DIPPING and diving their way through this bumpy journey, these giraffe's duck for cover as they dodge multiple cables and wires .
THESE kingfishers prove no rod is needed as they go fishing for their dinner .
ROLLING up snow in its tiny paws, this little squirrel is looking for a snowball fight .
SPARKLING bright inside their box, it’s hard to believe these diamonds are made from the cremated remains of the deceased .
NOT YOUR everyday selfie, this plucky diver poses with some of the scariest predators in the ocean .
An Indonesian farmer is dragged through muddy water as he clings to the tails of two charging cows .
EAGERLY BITING his nails, this little squirrel is clearly nervous of looming predators as he searches for his meal .
FULLY equipped with a kitchen and lounge, it's hard to believe this modern holiday let is actually a BUS .