EVER since Donny Osmond had his first British chart hit in 1972, one York woman has been obsessed by the man and his music.

Now, 32 years on, 44-year-old community carer Diane Mountford has redecorated the spare room at her New Earswick home and turned it in to a "Donny museum" dedicated to all things Osmond.

Diane first saw the Osmonds on a televised Royal Variety Performance when she was 11.

She said: "I fell in love with Donny, they all just looked so fantastic - the way they sang and danced together they were wonderful.

"At the time there were a lot of long-haired rock groups which didn't appeal to me."

From then on Diane was hooked, and in 1975 she pestered her parents to go to see The Osmonds perform live at Earls Court in London.

Later, Diane married husband Bob and became a mother herself.

She now has a 17-year-old daughter, Laura, but remains utterly dedicated to watching Donny whenever and wherever she can.

Last March, she went to see Donny perform at Sheffield City Hall and got close up with her idol.

Diane said: "It was very exciting, I waited at the stage door for 20 minutes.

"I touched his shoulder as he got off the coach and nearly fainted. He looked older, but just as gorgeous."

Diane is not alone in her love of Donny.

She has formed a band of local Osmond devotees she likes to call the "Yorkies".

The group includes Jeanette Smith from Malvern Avenue, Acomb, Sheridan Stead, of Stockton Lane, Heworth, and Julie Holdsworth of Fifth Avenue, Tang Hall.

Diane met Jeanette after she wrote to the Evening Press asking if anyone had photographs from a Donny concert after hers were ruined.

And she met the other two women through Donny's official website, www.donny.com

They meet regularly in the Donny Room at Diane's Rowan Avenue home to listen to music and swap tales of past Osmond encounters.

Asked what her family think of her hobby, Diane said: "Oh, they think I'm obsessed, but my husband likes to see me enjoy myself.

"My daughter is heavily into Johnny Depp, so I suppose you could call her a fanatic in training!"

This week is the start of Donny's British tour and Diane will see him at Cardiff, Edinburgh and Chatsworth House.

She said: "It will be worth every penny - I don't know if my husband would agree though!"

Updated: 10:47 Thursday, July 08, 2004