A florist based in Sheffield is raising money for the NHS by selling rainbow-coloured bouquets called “The Hug”.

Kirsty Thompson, who runs the Sundew Florist from her home, has pledged that for every rainbow bouquet she sells, she will donate £5 to the NHS.

The bouquets, which are inspired by the rainbow trend seen in the first lockdown, are intended to lift people’s spirits by giving them a “distanced hug”.

Ms Thompson said: “Some of the messages that have been sent with the flowers are just heart-wrenching. Some people can’t get to those that they love as a lot of people are shielding, so it’s nice for those little messages of hope to get out to people.”

In March 2020, Ms Thompson, who also works in dentistry, set up her floristry business just weeks before the first national lockdown was announced. After being furloughed, Ms Thompson said that she needed something to keep herself busy while at home.

She said she was overwhelmed with orders almost immediately, and that “The Hug” flowers were an instant hit with customers.

Steph Barnett, a student nurse at Sheffield Hallam University, said she was delighted when she received a bouquet from her mother after the most recent lockdown was announced.

She said: “I thought it was a really nice gift, especially with it being donated to the NHS, which is obviously so close to our hearts at this time.”