Invention gives Anne flower power

Anne Lloyd came up with the idea of The Instant Florist

A woman with arthritis, forced to give up her career as a florist, has turned inventor to help others like her still enjoy flower arranging.

Anne Lloyd from Chirk near Wrexham had to finish work because of her condition.

However, she put her career back on track when she came up with an award-winning invention to help people create professional floral arrangements.

The Instant Florist will now be manufactured throughout the UK.

The deal comes after the device won an award at last year's British Invention Show.

As I was making it, I realised that I was onto something special Anne Lloyd

The Instant Florist is made from polyethylene and flower stems are inserted into its slanted holes to maintain a hand-tied bouquet effect.

Mrs Lloyd was forced to give up her floristry business last year due to arthritis.

However, she had already had the idea for The Instant Florist.

"At busy times such as Mother's Day my husband, Mike, helped out in the shop and I needed a device to ensure he produced professional-quality bouquets every time," she said.

"As I was making it, I realised that I was onto something special.

"I was very lucky in that I met Richard before I got despondent about making it a saleable product.

"I have arthritis and in developing the prototype I also found that it's very easy for someone with restricted movement in their hands to use," she added.

Richard Insall-Jones, also from Wrexham, will market and distribute the device.

"There is nothing like The Instant Florist anywhere in the world and we have applications for UK, European and worldwide patents pending," said Mr Insall-Jones from Poly Projects.

"We have the capacity to make tens of thousands a week and as volume production gets under way, a number of new jobs could be created," he added.