AN ENGAGED Galashiels couple forced to postpone their wedding have gifted flowers back to their florist.

Andrina MacLellan and Steven Lees had already paid for Emma McDonald's services by the time coronavirus put a spanner in the works.

But instead of letting the flowers go to waste, the pair generously returned them to Ms McDonald, owner of Stems in Innerleithen.

Ms McDonald said: “They said they wanted me to try and sell the rest as I was going to need the money now more than ever.

"In what must have been a horrific time they thought of me and my business and words can’t describe what that meant.”

She added: "It would’ve been lovely to have given them to care homes but, because of the risk of spreading the virus, delivering them would’ve been too difficult."

Ms McDonald told the Peeblesshire News last week that she has lost £40,000 worth of business due to weddings being pushed back.

She is trying to remain positive, however, helped by the knowledge that no cancellations have been lodged.

And the recent gift from Miss MacLellan and Mr Lees has further lifted her spirits.

The florist says a friendship has now bloomed and she has pledged to deliver an "amazing" display when the time comes.

“I know once all of this calms down and normality resumes we will become such good friends organising the most beautiful wedding day over copious amounts of coffee,” Ms McDonald said.

Contemplating the future, she added: “I have worked so hard to get to the position I was in at the start of the year. I’ve not had any cancellations so I will still get to bring my couples’ visions to life, albeit at a later date."