A FLORIST has been hailed a blooming success for the second time in two years.

Karen Jones, 32, who owns Pick of the Bunch, in Blackburn Road, Darwen, was judged to have the Prince's Trust East Lancashire Business of the Year 2000 just three years after setting up shop.

Her business was only made possible with a £1,500 start-up grant and a £3,500 loan from the Prince's Trust. Now everything has come up roses for the entrepreneur, who was awarded the LiveWire Business Woman of the Year 1999 after opening the shop in January 1998.

A former pupil at Darwen Vale High School, in Blackburn Road, she had been in the flower industry for about 11 years before she decided to go it alone.

She received a certificate and £250 at a ceremony at St Martin's College, Lancaster.

She said: "I had always worked for other people and I always knew this is what I wanted to do, but I never had the funds until I found out about the Prince's Trust. I haven't looked back.

"It's been tremendous. The response we have had not only from local people but from bigger businesses all over the place has been amazing. It just keeps going and going.

"When I feel confident enough I would like to expand. Once I've found a niche I might open another shop."