An MP has thanked a florist who welcomed small businesses back in bloom last week.

Open all Flowers, in Clayton-le-Moors, sent out 26 bouquets of flowers to independent business owners in Hyndburn to welcome them back to the high street, winning them the Local Hero award from their local MP.

Speaking on social media, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, Sara Britcliffe said: "Congratulations to Janet and Nigel, the team behind Open All Flowers, for winning this weeks Local Hero award.

"Last week 26 businesses across Hyndburn were surprised with a beautiful bunch of flowers when they re-opened their stores.

"This act of kindness by Janet and Nigel was to welcome businesses back and to remind them that people were still thinking of them. It's a good reminder that we need to get behind our local businesses and to shop local wherever possible."

Owners Janet and Nigel O'Rourke, who have owned the flower shop for nearly 30 years, were blown away and thanked Sara for recognising what they had done for the community as lockdown was eased last week.

They said: "It was really lovely of Sara to feel we deserved a special visit and we were really pleased to meet her"