MYSTERY today surrounded the proposed use of two floors of Southend's Palace Hotel as part of its £20million renovation plan.

Essex University and hotel owner Octagon Assets have finally lodged a planning application to restore the Palace as a 150-bedroom hotel, conference centre with bars and restaurants.

However, the proposal includes two extra floors for "unspecified leisure uses" on top of the existing building giving spectacular views across the Thames Estuary.

For the full story see today's Echo.