A BARNARD Castle florist is brightening the town and raising cash for a Ukrainian relief fund by selling blue and yellow ribbons.
Sarah Meeson, from Vintage Essence, has used up 1,600 yards of ribbon and spent countless hours making since she started her fundraising scheme a month.
At the latest count, she has raised £1,215.
Ms Meeson said: “It is nice going around town and seeing them on all the doors. It was not my idea though, I borrowed it from a florist in Carlisle.
“I got to know a Ukrainian lady over in Crook who has been selling them. She brought in £405.
“We are selling ten to 15 a day, but it is not me, it is the town – people have been very supportive.
“Also up the dale. Teesdale is a very helpful place with generous people.”
One of the ribbons has gone as far as Cambridge.
David Brownless, who bought one last week, said: “My daughter bought one from Sarah and my cousins who are up from Cambridge, wanted one so I said I will go down, because they couldn’t find the shop.”
The ribbons cost £2.50 and can be bought from Vintage Essence at the top of Galgate. All of the cash raised from the ribbon sales is being handed over to the Ukraine collection effort being arranged at Richardson Hospital.
