A FOOTBALL fan who appeared on TV quiz show the Weakest Link said it's not about the winning but the taking part that counts.

Grandmother Freda Pickavance, 67, of Buckingham Grove, Church, was a contender on the show on Monday evening but was voted off after the second round despite being the strongest link.

Watching herself on screen was unusual and although she felt calm on the day, Freda said she looked nervous on the show.

She said: "I found all sorts of faults with myself on screen. I looked really nervous but I think I was concentrating that much I didn't laugh and smile.

"People who watched the show said that I shouldn't have gone out after the second round but Anne Robinson did make a big issue out of it at the time. But I didn't just go there to win, I went to have a good time and that's what I did."

Freda, who supports both Blackburn Rovers and Accrington Stanley, said Anne tried to trip her up with a football question which she got right.

She added: "I support all football and started watching Stanley in 1954 with my dad, I was 14 years old. I don't think Anne expected me to get the answer right but I am a big football fan."