Three women from Dursley decorated the town centre with more than 3,500 beautiful, handmade flowers on Saturday, donated by knitters from as far and wide as Yorkshire, Reading and Durham.

Angela White and town councilors Tyler White and Mandy Woodward appealed for knitted, crocheted, and felt flowers after taking down the Christmas lights in January.

They were met with a huge response from Dursley residents, 1st Dursley Scouts, Dursley Lions and Lionesses and Henlow Court Care Home, as well as from creatives around England.

“We wanted something to brighten up Dursley and we thought that it would help people in lockdown because the winter lockdown seems to have been worse for people,” said Cllr Woodward, who is a member of the Dursley Festive Committee with Cllr White and Ms White.

Gazette Series:

Flower-makers had until mid-March to send in their creations, which were hung on trees, signs and bollards and placed in flower pots around Dursley.

“The reaction has been brilliant. When we were putting them up on Saturday one lady came over to us and said ‘walking up through town has made me smile and I haven’t smiled in a long time,’ so that was really nice,” said Cllr Woodward.

“We had another lady with her toddler who was so excited to go and find all these flowers. It has been a really good response.

“We’d like everybody to enjoy the flowers while they’re out and to thank everybody that’s contributed.”