I just want to rest, wrote the 20-year-old as she lay in her hospital bed last week, adding updates to her popular blog, Just Call Me Coco... After more than two years and 1,000 pages, those would be her final words.

They were a far cry from the excitable, upbeat demeanour of her previous posts, in which she would bravely describe her condition, hopes and fears and frequent treatment – as well as answer questions about her personal life from her army of inquisitive blog followers.

In a YouTube video, titled Living with Cystic Fibrosis, uploaded in 2010, Emma described her symptoms, life-expectancy and relationships with friends.

"I think it's pretty safe to say I'm deteriorating pretty rapidly," she said in response to questions about her health. "Probably more than most.

"Hopefully, I'll exceed doctors' expectations of five years, though.

"It's not long."

It was one of thousands of posts about her condition – one of the more "depressing ones," as she described it.

But Emma continued to raise awareness of cystic fibrosis, which affects more than 10,000 people in the UK.

She had publicly battled her affliction through her blog, YouTube and Twitter for years, but also campaigned for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the Organ Donor Register, which she did not get the chance to join.

Her prolific blogging included scores of photographs in hospital and receiving treatment, but also included her thoughts on her hobbies and interests.

Posts about fashion, make-up and music would break up her honest accounts of living with a debilitating condition.

Emma, from Desford, died at Glenfield Hospital on Monday, surrounded by her family. She had typed her final blog post days before, at 1.17pm on July 4.

"You know the things you think you'll think about when you're threatened with the prospect of death? Yeah, well I'm not thinking about them," she wrote.

"Like what my last meal would ideally be, or who would be here when I finally died (other than my parents), or what I'd hoped to achieve by said day, what I wish I'd done or said, etc.

"I've been trying to think about my best life moments but it's not flashing before my eyes. Weird experience. Really weird.

"I just want to rest."

The former Bosworth Academy student had battled with the disease, which affects the lungs, since she was a small child and knew it was unlikely she would live past 25.

The heartbreaking final words on her blog reflect the bravery and acceptance she had shown since she began documenting her battle with the condition, in August 2010.

Scores of people who followed her blog and YouTube channel left messages of disbelief and shock at the sad news.

Commenting on her YouTube site, Georginiou wrote: "Emma, RIP. In one of the lowest parts of my life you showed life is worth it. I took comfort in knowing someone like you existed in this world.

"To be aware of something so beautiful gave me hope. I will not forget you and you changed me forever. I am better for knowing of you.

"Wherever you are, there will be a place in my heart for you."

Another Tumblr friend commented: "One of the people I followed died today. Emma suffered from cystic fibrosis and was a lovely girl.

"She has sent me messages before, telling me not to give up and I'm so sad she is gone."

Staff at Bosworth Academy also paid tribute to the former pupil. Assistant principal Nick Palmer said: "She approached everything with enthusiasm and with a sense of humour, never once allowing herself to miss out or be disadvantaged in any way.

"It is impossible to remember a time she was not smiling or laughing. She never gave up on anything or anyone.

"She was a fantastic role model for young people, who simply refused to be defined by her disability."

Tutor Ursula Manning said: "Emma was a bubbly and bright student whose enthusiasm and determination to succeed made her a natural leader. She was liked and respected by the staff and students and we shall all miss her terribly."

Russell Baker, head of science at the school, said: "Everyone at Bosworth Academy who had the pleasure of knowing Emma is devastated to hear of her tragic death.

"We remember her with great fondness and affection, not only as an extremely conscientious, creative and popular student, but also as someone who was always positive, happy and cheerful despite having to cope with damaging effects of her cystic fibrosis."

Cystic fibrosis affects mostly the lungs and digestive system, clogging them with sticky mucus and making it hard to breathe and digest food.

Cystic Fibrosis Trust spokeswoman Louise Banks said: "Emma was willing to put herself forward to help us raise awareness of both cystic fibrosis and the need to increase the number of lungs available to people with cystic fibrosis who reach transplant stage.

"We are so sad to hear that she has succumbed to the effects of cystic fibrosis. Emma was waiting to be put on to the transplant waiting list." See Emma's site JUST CALL ME COCOJust Call Me Coco... A selection from Emma's blog over the past few weeks JUNE 30, 9.11pm If you live in the UK, text CFWK13, followed by £2, £5 or £10 to 70070, to make a donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, aiding research into a cure, preventative medication, family aid and awareness across the country. A nice way to end the CF Awareness Week I reckon! JULY 1, 8.30am Just woken up and coughed out what can only be described as a toad. Never seen anything like it in my life. These meds are playing havoc with my insides. One minute I feel great and full of air and energy… Next minute, I'm full of roid rage and choking on amphibian shaped/coloured mucous. Oozing sex appeal as ever… JULY 2, 11.49am @Coco is a nickname given to me by about three people and it was simply because of two things, depending on who said it. Either a) the colour of my hair or b) the fact that I used to always wear coco mademoiselle. That's literally it. Not exciting at all. x July 3, 12.59am My note for the day: It's all got very serious and scary in camp CF, for me at least. Had some conversations about assisted breathing, ventilation and other big scary things. Had bizarre fits of breathing and passed out and all sorts. It's been bizarre to say the least. All you really need to know about my day, though, the weirdest part, is that… I've been catheterised. Yep. Lol. July 3, 7.25am High flow oxygen – aka the noisiest piece of kit ever. July 3, 3.19pm Looking particularly fetching with an ice pack on my 'ead. July 4, 4.16am I've started to have the moments where I'd be okay if it all just stopped. I don't want to be in this pain any more. It's gotten way beyond control. I wouldn't go as far as "euthanise me", but I'm creeping ever closer to DNR (do not resuscitate). July 4, 4.21am I'm half expecting a message like "I've been worse than you and I was fine''. You might've been. Docs just told me I might be nearing the end yesterday though, so I'd say I'm allowed to be terrified. JULY 4, 4.21am It's all very sudden. Everything is. July 4, 1.17pm You know the things you think you'll think about when you're threatened with the prospect of death? Well I'm not thinking about them. Like what my last meal would ideally be or who would be here when I finally died (other than my parents), or what I'd hoped to achieve by said day, what I wish I'd done or said. I've been trying to think about my best life moments but it's not flashing before my eyes. Weird experience. I just want to rest.

For more information about the charity, visit:

www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk

To register for organ donation, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson believes getting his players back on the field of play is invaluable in the build-up to the new Championship campaign.

Pearson's side defeated Conference North outfit Leamington 2-0 in their first taste of competitive football since the play-off semi-final heartbreak.

Goals from Chris Wood and Martyn Waghorn got their pre-season campaign off to a winning start in front of more than 1,000 supporters at the New Windmill Ground.

Pearson said, whatever the result, it's so important to have the players back playing competitive football.

"You can do all your training and look really good but you get out on to the pitch in a game and there is a bit of rustiness, the timing of some of our play wasn't quite right and players make runs but the ball doesn't come," said Pearson.

"We did look a little rusty but what I would say is that the players have all had a really good workout.

"We'll have a look at all the data because we do continue to put all the GPS stuff on them and look at how they've worked as well, but we know because of the conditions it's been a good physical workout.

"If you ask the players, it's always nice to get some pitch time."

Pearson tried out some new tactical ideas, playing his side in a 3-5-2 formation during the first half with Jeffrey Schlupp and Ritchie De Laet out wide and the City boss thought this worked really well.

"We gave the ball away a little bit too much but I think you saw with Jeff and Ritchie that their game is suited to that system in terms of utilising their pace in wide areas. It's always nice to have another trick up your sleeve so to speak."

Pearson's charges are spending this week in a training camp in Austria.

"We've had two weeks of training now," said Pearson. "It's always about improving, it's not easing it back now on the fitness side, it's keeping conditioning going but also it's an opportunity to do a bit of work out there. It's a chance for players to be together and be able to sit down and chat.

"It's not a long trip, I don't particularly like lagging tours and the international boys will be back so, hopefully, it will be a good trip."

Record crowds tasted the magic and nostalgia of a bygone age at a traditional country show.

More than 10,000 people took advantage of the glorious weather to visit the Great Rempstone Steam and Country Show at the weekend.

The stars of the show were 40 traction engines, in full steam with their gleaming brass and paintwork, dotted around the showground at Turn Post Farm, Wymeswold.

Attractions included a farmers market, snake and reptile exhibition, a vintage car and motorcycle show and hands-on activities for kids.

Families enjoyed rides on an old-fashioned fairground and steam engines, while there were archery, rural crafts and working horse displays.

Colin Fox, of Rempstone Traction Engine Club, which organises the show, said: "It's been an exceedingly busy weekend with record crowds.

"Now in our 56th year, the show has become a huge attraction and it was great to see so many enjoying themselves."

The show, run by volunteers, has raised more than £100,000 for charities and good causes in recent years.

A Leicester MP has launched a national campaign aiming to get all schools to stop selling fizzy drinks.

Keith Vaz is concerned that although fizzy drinks are banned in state schools, vending machines selling them are still available in academies and free schools nationwide.

His campaign comes after the NHS warned that one-third of children are either overweight or obese by the time they leave school.

Mr Vaz, who has type 2 diabetes and is founder of the diabetes charity Silver Star, said: "It is simply not right that pupils in academies and free schools have access to sugary drinks that are a leading cause of obesity in our children.

"The Government has seen the sense of banning these products in maintained schools, so academies and free schools must follow suit."

As part of the campaign, launched on Friday at Abbey Primary School, in Leicester, schools will be awarded a silver star if they agree to stop selling such drinks.

Mr Vaz joined pupils in a game of handball to raise awareness of the importance of a good diet and exercise.

He then awarded the school a silver star for its commitment to healthy eating and exercise.

"We are experiencing an obesity epidemic in our children," said Mr Vaz.

"Schools must lead the way in educating pupils about the benefits of a healthy diet and exercise."

Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for children, young people and schools, said that the city council has no formal powers over academies and free schools.

However, she said it aimed to work in close partnership to see nutritional standards apply equally in academies and free schools as they do in local authority schools.

Diabetes nurse Elaine Duffin, who is supporting the campaign, said: "People need to be educated from a young age about the amount of sugar that goes into these fizzy drinks.

"Taking vending machines out of schools would obviously help, but doesn't stop kids from going into shops and buying sugary treats.

"If a drink tastes nice, they'll have it."

Elaine said young people need to learn to make better choices, which could delay the onset of health issues, such as diabetes, when they are older.

"A lot of people see diabetes as a 'fat-disease' and that's not right. Type 2 diabetes is in our genetic make-up and some people aren't aware they have it. The whole population needs to be educated.

"Everybody should be living a healthy lifestyle."

Crime gangs are targeting banks on one of Leicester's main roads with hi-tech skimming devices on cash machines.

Police have found the devices – which fit over the ATMs and are designed to read customers' account details from their cards – on machines at banks in Narborough Road nine times in the past five months.

They believe the area is being targeted by criminals and have warned people to be on the look-out for signs that cash dispensers have been tampered with.

Sergeant Simon Barnes, of Hinckley Road police station, said: "Normally we have these things once in a blue moon, so nine in such a short space of time is a lot and it is a concern.

"Some of these things may have been in situ for some time and it's been eagle-eyed members of the public who have spotted them.

"One person spotted one of them and removed it and ended up getting chased by the suspects, who appear to have remained in the area.

"Our general message to people is to be on the alert and to call the police immediately if they believe a bank machine has been tampered with."

At this stage it is not known if the criminals were successful in obtaining customers' account details and using the information to withdraw their cash.

The Mercury reported on two of the first incidents in the spate of crimes in February.

A skimming device was found on the cashpoint at Barclays on Narborough Road on February 15 and another one on the ATM machine at Barclays in Narborough Road South two days later.

Since then, seven more devices have been found at banks along the road.

However, police said the banks have asked not to be identified.

Police refer incidents of ATM fraud to a national investigating body – the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit, a team of officers from the City of London and Metropolitan Police forces.

The unit said its caseload was rising month by month.

In April last year, it recorded 861 incidents across the country compared to 2,276 in April this year.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Carter, of the DCPCU, said: "Cash machines are generally very safe, but they do sometimes attract criminal attention.

"Make sure you have your card company's 24-hour contact number stored in your mobile phone. If you spot anything unusual about the machine, or there are signs of tampering, do not use it. Report it to the bank concerned immediately."

Leicester City are the only team in the Championship yet to recruit any new players this summer.

The start of the new season is just over three weeks away but City have kept their whistle clean in terms of adding new players to the squad.

However, manager Nigel Pearson has certainly not ruled out bringing in one or two before the end of the transfer window at the end of August.

City seem to be opting to go into the new season with a settled squad, going for the benefits of continuity, rather than risking radical changes to the side that reached the play-offs last season.

However, many of their rivals have made changes to their squad so far, although many have been players released.

Here is a run-down of the ins and out in the Championship so far.

Labour councillors have been accused of wasting hundreds of pounds of public money on leaflets about themselves and meetings they attend.

Ross Grant, Tory city councillor for Knighton, has condemned the decision to allocate up to £900 on publicity for the area's community forum meetings.

His fellow Knighton councillor Lynn Moore proposed using part of an £18,000 annual budget, provided by the city council, to produce some 8,000 leaflets and deliver them to homes in the ward.

She said the leaflets were to publicise the forum and tell people how they can they can apply for a share of the £18,000 cash pot to support community initiatives suggested by organisations and members of the public.

Her fellow Labour councillor, Inderjit Gugnani, supported Coun Moore's application and the pair outvoted Coun Grant to approve it at last month's forum meeting.

He argued the Knighton money could be better spent because the meetings could be publicised on the council's website and in its Link magazine, which is delivered to every household in the city.

The leaflet, which is being drawn up, will carry the future dates of the forum meetings as well as examples of projects supported with community grants.

It will also carry photos and contact details of councillors Moore and Gugnani, but Coun Grant has asked for his details to be excluded. Instead, there will be a disclaimer saying he opposed using community fund cash on the leaflets.

He said: "What do the residents get out of it? They get a leaflet with pictures of Lynn Moore and Inderjit Gugnani pushed through their letterbox.

"That's not what this money was intended for. That £18,000 is for real community projects but Lynn and Inderjit have decided five per cent of the total should go on publicity.

"It's a complete waste of money and I think people would rather it be spent on projects with a long-term benefit. There are plenty of other ways to publicise the meetings.

"When council services are being cut everywhere I think the community forum funding becomes even more precious and councillors should not be using it for what is effectively publicity for themselves."

Coun Moore said: "It's not a waste of money, we are giving the community information about the fund.

"We want as many people as possible to know about the availability of the money.

"In the past, we haven't had as many applications as we might. There tends to be a phenomenon where we have a lot of money left over at the end of the year and we have given a large grants to single applicant. We wand to spread it out."

Councillor Moore said the matter was put to a public vote at the forum last month attended by about 20 members of the public.

She said: "It was close but people supported it.

"People will be split. Coun Grant opposed it and has asked not to have his details included. I have offered him a disclaimer."

A similar leaflet was produced last year in the Stoneygate ward costing £476 to produce and up to £500 to deliver. Coun Moore and that other forums were considering putting out leaflets.

She said: "It is an experiment and if it doesn't work we won't do it again."

Coun Gugnani was unavailable for comment.

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson has reiterated that Wes Morgan is not for sale after rejecting a new bid for his skipper.

Pearson was responding after Nottingham Forest had tabled a second bid of up to £2million.

The new bid was apparently made late last week, despite City's manager saying earlier he wouldn't be selling him.

Morgan arrived at the King Power Stadium from Forest for £1m in January 2012 and last season was voted Player of the Year and made it into the Championship Team of the Year.

Pearson made it clear that Morgan is going nowhere.

"Wes isn't for sale," he said. "They (Forest) have made a couple of bids but that is irrelevant as far as I'm concerned. I have said before I want to try to keep the squad together.

"If bids come in then there will be questions asked. But I'm working to try to get the team prepared for the season.

"I can't do anything about what other people do. All I can say is that we don't have any intention of selling him.

"What you get with these situations is external influences trying to destabilise us as a football club and ask some questions.

"It happens, I'm sure I'll get asked again, but it is what it is and I think I have made my position quite clear.

"I don't really take much notice of it to be perfectly honest. I'm more concerned about how it affects the squad and I certainly don't want the fans to be concerned about us."

The summer has been a quiet one so far at the King Power Stadium transfer-wise with City the only club in the Championship not to have signed anyone.

Pearson told the Mercury last week not to except major changes and admitted that the Financial Fair Play regulations were a huge factor in this.

But he hinted that there may still be some dealings, both in and out of the club, before the transfer window closes.

"I'm not suggesting that we aren't going to do some business," he said.

"I've already made the point about Financial Fair Play implications and we may do some business but we will be looking to bring players in as well.

"I want to try to build on what we've developed so far in terms of the squad and then we'll go from there."