For almost 10 years, Alexandra Fairclough was Conservation Officer with Trafford Borough Council and she now does a similar job with Cheshire East Council.

So her interest in local history and architecture is indisputable.

Every day she does a daily twitter about the area (@Bricks_andwater) and writes small articles on instagram.(@Alexatourguide).

In 2018, after nine months intensive training she acquired her green badge which enabled her to become a tourist guide in Salford and alongside Manchester Guided Tours.

She said: “I was delighted. You have to take three exams with a pass mark of 70%. There were 10 of us who started the course and only seven got through.”

Just before lockdown, in November 2019 she set up her business, Alexa Tours.

It started well and people who came on her tours were amazed to learn that, in the Seventeenth century, Manchester was just a village and part of the County (Hundred) known as Salfordshire.

They especially loved her guided walks entitled Discover Salford, Discover Worsley.

Alexandra said: “I always asked people who attended my tours what they were interested in.

“After the last lockdown I offered private tours for six friends or family members who wanted to meet up, on a guided tour, ending with coffee somewhere outside.”

Alexandra doesn’t want people to miss out just because they are locked down. So she plans to take them on virtual tours. One of the first will be Discover Sale which happens to be her home town.

“It will reveal that Sale Moor really was once a moor. We will look at Sale Cemetery and learn about the people who are buried there.”

Following that will come a virtual tour entitled -Discover Stretford and Trafford.

“We are lucky in Trafford. We have Washway Road which was a Roman Road, a railway and a canal all going in the same direction.”

Alexandra hopes to be up and running again by 11 May 2021. If Covid lets her, Alexandra will charge her usual price of £12 per person.

Virtual tours cost £5 and can be booked at alexatours.eventbrite.com see Manchesterguidedtours.com for more information.