A thong in a bunch of roses for Valentine's day?

Fiona Penny at Sunflowers has been talking about some of her more unusual Valentine's Day orders

A thong in a bunch of roses, flowers wrapped in £50 notes and an engagement ring amongst the blooms - some of the more unusual Valentine's requests received by florist Fiona Penny.

As the orders for 14 February come in, bunches of roses, strings of ribbon and piles of cards are filling Ms Penny's studio.

The florist, from Weymouth in Dorset, has been in the business for 30 years.

But she says it's not all sunflowers and roses for the business as Brexit and the cost of living has cast a shadow over the industry's creative work.

Valentine's Day is Ms Penny's favourite time of year because she says it is busy but also fun.

Many people still order the classic dozen red roses but others go the extra mile "by adding something special" she says.

"I have had some unusual requests in the past, one gentlemen ordered a dozen roses and asked me to wrap each bud in a £50 note.

"We've also done an arrangement which was asked to have an engagement ring in the middle and also I have been asked to include a pair of thongs in the middle of the bouquet."

Flowers fill Ms Penny's studio in the run up to Valentine's Day

Brexit rules mean that plants and flowers being shipped into the UK need to be checked at the border.

Ms Penny says that has impacted the way florists work.

"It has certainly hit us with the amount of paper work and certificates and some of the flowers may not be as fresh," she says.

"We try and buy British when we can but obviously our peak seasons are Christmas, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, which are in the winter months."

The number of orders for Valentine's Day this year are about the same as last year, Ms Penny explained.

"Orders start coming in the week before and are slow until a few days before.

"I am expecting the usual rush and will more than likely get people phoning up on the day expecting a delivery as well."