AN award-winning florist who recently scooped honours at the Royal Flower Show is now celebrating international fame.

Janet Boast, of 'Going Dutch', Nelson, was commissioned to make flowers for the Commonwealth Games but was stunned to discover some of her posies were to be presented to the Queen as part of her visit to the North West and opening of the event in Manchester.

Janet, 42, is now among a team of North West florists making 1,500 bouquets for athletes who win medals at the Games.

She said: "There's a team of us in Manchester doing all the flowers because Interflora is sponsoring the event.

"There are all sorts of things to do, such as corporate flowers, table arrangements and the posies given to the winners on the podium.

"I went along on Wednesday and was given the job of doing the two posies which were due to be given to the Queen during the main ceremony and at another venue.

"They asked me if I would do it but didn't tell me who they were for until after I had said 'yes'. I was given the flowers which were the Commonwealth Games colours of yellow, red, orange and blue and was told I could add others in if I wanted to as long as they were in the colour scheme.

"They were nice sized posies made up of different coloured roses, thistles, gerbers, foliage and berries. I was thrilled to bits when I had done them. It was great to be asked."

Janet came runner-up in the prestigious International Florist of the Year competition last week at the Tatton Flower Show.

Husband Peter, 44, and employee Ken Watson, 51, will also be in Manchester during the next few days, working on the flowers.