A MEXICAN restaurant owner has struggled through the pandemic to stay open and pay bills.

Levi Hernandez living in Clayton-Le-Moors runs Crazy Pancho’s on Whalley Road, where customers have been raving about the authentic Mexican food.

But lockdown saw the business almost close as Mr Hernandez could only afford to pay himself £220 a week despite working 12 hours to make ends meet.

Originally from Ciudad Juarez, he said: “We did not qualify for a grant because we are a small takeaway.

“It has been a struggle throughout this pandemic because it is just me working by myself. I try to get help from my wife and step-daughter when I need it, but mostly it is just me.

“Some days it is barely enough to pay the rent and the bills but thanks to all the support the customers have been giving me recently, we are grateful for it.”

The business was set up last year in May and Mr Hernandez prides himself on making authentic Mexican food, importing spices straight from the country to give his customers a taste of the traditional cuisine.

He said: “I used to sell tacos in Mexico, so my ambition was to get a delivery van in England to go to festivals with like the Clitheroe one.

“But it costs so much, and I came here in 2011 with nothing so I cannot pay for that. This country has been great for me and I decided to make a living here.”

“Before the lockdown we were doing okay, and I could pay myself a wage but right now I can only give myself the minimum I can get away with to pay the bills.”

Mr Hernandez has some loyal customers who love his food and he remains grateful for their support.

He said: “The customers are very supportive and enjoy the food, they are the business and the boss, so I like to make them whatever they want.

“I was busy this week and I was so happy and emotional because it has been a while like this,

“Hopefully I will be able to hire somebody soon because some people waited in the rain and cold for an hour for me to serve them.”

Ciudad Juarez Is one of the most dangerous and violent places in Mexico according to Mr Hernandez.

“It is a poor and dangerous country where I woke up every-day to read hundreds of people were killed, heads hanging off lamp-posts.

“I am happy to be here and hope more people will try my food.”