The Burnley gin lover who is raising spirits with lockdown cocktail videos

Diane Levens, secretary at Briercliffe Social Club, started recording the videos in her garden at the beginning of the first lockdown in March.

Since then, the Briercliffe broadcaster has become somewhat of a social media sensation with hundreds of people tuning in to the social club's Facebook page each Sunday for her latest gin clinic.

"I started it for members at the club, as a way for them to come together, comment and keep in touch," said Diane, who lives in Harle Syke. "Now it just seems to have exploded. I even had one lady come up to me in the supermarket the other day and say, 'you're that gin lady from Facebook, aren't you?'.

"I am getting a bit worried now though because I'm starting to run out of gin recipes."

Once the first lockdown ended, Diane, along with her cameraman, husband Phil, left the confines of home and started visiting different locations around the town to film.

Their travels have taken them to the Singing Ringing Tree, the Burnley 'B', Turf Moor; she even visited Towneley Hall dressed as an elf over Christmas.

"I had a bit of a break between July and October, when the club was allowed to open, but I carried on doing them once we had to close again.

"I am a bit of a gin addict. I used to be a member of a gin club, so it's something that I do love. I guess I'll carry on doing them for as along as people are watching."

Diane said she had no idea when the club would re-open, but hoped it would be before the summer.

"Briercliffe Club is more than just a drinking place, it's a community. We're social animals, and people need that interactions

"We had to cancel 30/40 functions last year. A few of those were moved to January and February this year, so they've been postponed again.

"We had to cancel our beer and gin festivals as well. It's been hard. Luckily we have a little bit of money in the bank which helps, but I feel really sorry for those who don't.

"When this ends, everybody in the industry is going to have to come together and help each other because it's going to be really hard for a long time."