An retired taxidermist from East Lancashire has appeared on Channel 4 dating show First Dates Hotel.

Sandy, from Accrington, appeared on the show earlier this week and said she hasn’t been on a date in 39 years.

The 67 year-old was hoping to meet “gentleman with a nice personality” to sweep her off her feet.

Sandy said: “I am excited to be on the show. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“I’m quite wary and nervous about meeting someone – but I am up for adventures.

“I would love to meet someone up for adventures, especially travelling; I love travelling.

“I want to meet someone who loves animals and who I can hold hands with while we walk the dogs.”

On the show Sandy also opened up about her unusual taxidermy career, which spanned 10 years, and says she preserved a variety of animals from pet dogs to monkeys.

She said: “It’s not as bad as it sounds. It’s so lovely to create something so beautiful out of something that would otherwise be buried.

“I can stuff anything. People have had their pets done, pet dogs, parrots, some monkeys from the zoo that died, baby leopards.

“I used to have a contract with the zoo so any animal that died I would take in and preserve it.

“That’s where I met my husband, he was a taxidermist, but that’s another story.”

Sandy’s date was a 70-year-old former sailor from Nantwich. Sandy opened up to Ray about this being her first date in 39 years and how she met her late husband.

She said: "It was a strange way to meet him actually. My daughter's rabbit died so I was looking for a taxidermist because I didn't want to bury it, it was too beautiful.

"So I found a taxidermist through a friend of mine, and that was Jeff. The death of a rabbit changed my life, basically."

Sandy’s husband died 14 years ago and she said it was the “hardest day” of her life.

She said: “I couldn't accept it for a long time. When it was time for the funeral, they said, 'the hearse is here,' and I just remember saying 'I don't want to go' because it was too final.

“It was like that would make it real. But I went and 14 years on and I'm still crying about it."

Despite Ray and Sandy’s shared love of animals, Sandy said she didn't want to go on a second date with Ray.

She said: "I think to try and get into this relationship game again, maybe I just find it too difficult.

"Maybe I'll never be ready. Maybe it's been too long, but it's been a lovely adventure."

Although their date didn't work out in Italy, Sandy returned home with a new found confidence and Ray is now blossoming in a new relationship.

In the seventh series of First Dates Hotel, Maître d’ Fred Siriex and his team welcome a host of hopeful singletons to the exquisite First Dates Hotel in Italy.

The First Dates team are inviting guests still looking for 'the one' for a more intensive and tailor-made matching-making experience.

If you have ever reached the end of an episode of First Dates and thought 'but I want to see what happens next' – then this will offer up the chance to find out. 

The format will allow those where the answer is ‘yes’ to extend their stay in the hotel and enjoy the stunning Italian countryside.

And for some who don't meet with success on their first date,  they will be re-matched for a second chance at finding love.

You can watch First Dates Hotel on All 4.