A GOUROCK musician has told how she came within a whisker of losing her dream career just to survive lockdown.

Professional singer and songwriter Jud Harron was desperate to stay in the industry but the coronavirus crisis pushed her ambitions to the brink.

She was set to quit for a call centre job after being left jobless by the pandemic.

The 33-year-old, who has been performing for over 15-years, was not eligible for a government self-employed grant so she picked up a part-time job in a shop to see her over the Christmas period.

After the green light was given for the return of live music, Jud is finally back performing both locally and further afield at pubs, restaurants and weddings.

She has told of her relief and says she felt 'extremely emotional' after wrapping up her first gig in 18 months.

Jud told the Tele: "I would watch the Scottish Government announcements and wait to hear about live music - but we went so long with no updates.

"At one point I genuinely didn't think it would ever come back, it was such a difficult period.

"I didn't qualify for a government grant so had to find something to keep me going.

"If it had had continued any longer I thought I was going to need to give up music altogether.

"It wasn't a great feeling not knowing when you'd next work, so it made the return to gigs even more amazing."

Jud lives with partner Dugald and says she's 'incredibly lucky' he was still working full-time in his post with Greenock-based healthcare insurance firm Cigna.

She told the Tele: "I am so lucky that we still had a wage coming in - some musicians live alone and would have had absolutely no chance.

"I also didn't know if the venues I play would even open again after lockdown and then if they did, they might not have been able to afford a musician right away.

"I enjoy what I do so much, so being away from it for so long was tough.

"It is so great to be back doing what I love and seeing people out enjoying themselves again.

"I genuinely welled up at the end of one gig as it was just surreal to be back performing.

"It's amazing to feel so 'normal' again."