A fLOWER specialist from the South East who created designs for the Queen and Richard & Judy is now plying her trade in Blaenau Gwent.

Sally Anne Dutson of The Flower Shop in Brynmawr town centre, trained as a florist at Windsor and recently relocated to Blaina.

She admitted that the first few months were a culture shock: "I couldn't get used to everyone saying hello. "Where we lived we never even knew our neighbours. "I'd never go back now."

Blaenau Gwent council claims Ms Dutson is one of a growing number of people who are moving from the crowded South East of England to make a new life in one of Wales' poorest boroughs.

"I try to offer individuality and help people with ideas," said Ms Dutson. "For one wedding we filled steel containers with blue cornflowers and lavender. It gave a silvery blue atmosphere and the aroma was just gorgeous.

"Another time we decorated throughout with cow parsley which is a lovely shade of green and white and creates a luminous lace effect."

The shop offers home visits to discuss colours and materials. It offers flowers from South Africa such as Ginger Flower, Protea, Agapanthus and Anthiriums possibly for the first time in this area.

Ms Dutson is cheering up local businesses by decorating their reception areas.

The shop is part of the Teleflorist network and receives calls from families in the USA and Australia to tend the graves of their loved ones.

"We are also called by Welsh families living in other parts of the UK who want a floral tribute in the shape of the dragon or the three feathers.

"When we do a wedding, we make up the bride's bouquet and show it to her the evening before to make sure it's perfect and if it's not we still have time to create another. People appreciate this attention to detail."