WITH the summer season in full swing, we felt it was time to look back at one of the Echo's quirkiest July stories.

This time of year isn't called the silly season for no reason!

It was just over 40 years ago, on July 5, 1976, when the Echo featured topless Maggie du Brett on its front page boldly strolling down Weymouth promenade wearing just jeans, sunglasses and a sultry look.

Our intrepid reporter at the time wrote: "The old folk basking in the seafront shelters just sat and stared as student Maggie du Brett strolled along the Prom.

"Going topless was pretty Maggie's remedy for soaking up the summer sunshine.

"Why shouldn't I go topless?" asked 18-year-old Maggie, who is spending her second successive summer in Weymouth.

"I've been sunbathing and swimming and haven't offended anyone. No-one has complained.

"After all it's not as though I'm the first girl to go topless, so what's all the fuss?"

The report added that Maggie would be returning to study fashion design at Maidenhead College of Arts in Berkshire in the autumn.

Preserving the Echo's reputation as a family newspaper today, we have protected Maggie's modesty but are asking the question, where is she now?