Mrs Major's literary launch

Norma Major last night launched her first book, Chequers, at a party in central London.

The lavish coffee-table tome about the Prime Minister's official country residence is already set for a third reprint.

Mrs Major said in a speech at the Sotherby's launch: "We enjoy using Chequers enormously and we hope to go on doing so for a considerable time. I hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it."

John Major caused uproar when he declared: "I am very proud of Norma and what she has done. I have watched this book from the beginning, I have seen chapters thrown in the firegrate - [and] I have pulled out some of them."