A pensioner has appeared on national television hoping to find her dream date.

Daisy Gaisford was one of three female contestants on Blind Date trying to impress a man hidden behind a screen in the hope of being whisked off to a romantic destination.

During her performance on the show, Daisy sang a song by Gracie Fields and danced.

Mrs Gaisford, 82, of West Cliff Court, Clacton, was put up to taking part by her niece, Joanne, who filled out her application form.

Mrs Gaisford had an interview for the show in Colchester and made an impression on the selectors.

She said: "They kept saying 'Isn't she fantastic'. I looked round and they were talking about me."

Mrs Gaisford said she had a great time meeting host Cilla Black, despite not being chosen for the date.

"It was an experience I'll never forget."

Fred Land, 98, chairman of the Evergreen Club, where Daisy is a member, said: "She put up a jolly good show."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.