Sheffield student in running for one-way trip to Mars

She might only be 21 but Sheffield University student Gillian Finnerty is already looking to the stars.

Gillian has made it through to the final 40 people from the UK who will be considered for a mission to Mars which could blast off as soon as 2025.

The astro-physics student has been chosen for the final stages of selection after more than a quarter of a million people from all over the world applied to go on the one way trip to the red planet.

Gillian, a former Easingwold School pupil, said she read about the private Dutch Mars One mission on Facebook and knew it was for her.

"I've been dreaming about this all my life and my goal is to be an astronaut. I want to do something significant with my life and nothing could be more important than this."

But the 70 million mile trip is a one way ticket. Because of the distance and complexity anyone who went to Mars would be there for the rest of their lives.

"It doesn't put me off, I'd be able to contact my family by video. My mum wasn't very happy but I would still be able to keep in touch."