A FLORIST is giving away flowers in a bid to raise donations for Ukraine.

A sea of blue and yellow flowers is lighting up Onslow Road today as staff from The Flower Factory spend one last day handing out flowers to anyone who wants them.

The flowers are free to take, but the staff are asking for a small and optional donation which will be given to a charity supporting refugees fleeing war-torn Ukraine.

So far, the team has raised £600 since they started the effort on Saturday.

Natalia Drozdz, who works at the Flower Factory, said that it was boss Mark Fitzpatrick's idea to raise the money.

She said: "Our boss wanted to give away the flowers for donations for Ukraine.

"We want to help Ukraine, my boss wants to support everyone.

"Not only that, but you don't have to donate any money. People are taking the flowers and giving them to the older people at care homes.

"We want to give back, everyone has had such a hard time with Covid and now with the war."

Mark Fitzpatrick added: "What's going on is terrible, it's a disgrace. 

"If we can help just one person, that would be amazing. 

"When Covid hit it was around Mother's Day. "This was the first time we [gave flowers away]. 

"We thought rather than throw them away, we can give them to someone else and help support all of those doctors and nurses. 

"It was great to be able to help in some way.

"Two years later, we have another tragedy. 

"The Southampton people are good people and everyone has donated, you don't have to give a donation by they chose to." 

The Flower Factory will be giving away flowers until 5pm today.

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