A new flower shop has opened in Westhoughton and is already proving to be a huge hit with customers.

Floral Fusion opened on Market Street on Wednesday, June 5 and owner Debra McDonald, 52, says she feels happy to be "home" after previously having a shop inside Westhoughton Market.

Debra was inspired to start creating flower arrangements when her mum died as flowers at the time were expensive to buy.

The mum from Westhoughton worked her way up and built up a strong clientele and now after what she calls a difficult year, Debra has opened her own shop and cannot wait to welcome people in.

Debra said: “I opened my shop on Wednesday, June 5, I used to be inside the Westhoughton Market and decided I wanted to progress and have my own shop.

“I started flowers because when my mum passed away flowers were so expensive, so I just started up my own business.

“I am self-taught, I haven’t done a course, I just taught myself and at first I started off doing little boxes for my family and it just grew from there.

“Westhoughton Market approached me and asked me if I wanted to sell flowers in the market, so I did do. I tried it and packed my job in driving the buses and that was it.

Floral arrangementFloral arrangement (Image: Debra McDonald) Read more top stories here:

“I built my business inside the market and expanded from there and got myself established and got myself a good customer base.

“And then I wanted to progress and get my own shop, which I have.

“Myself and my family have had a really bad year because my dad has passed away from cancer, my daughter was diagnosed with bowel cancer and is on her five year recovery now. One of my children’s nieces passed away with an illness at four years old, so it has been a bad year, and it has been nice that something good has happened off the back of that.

“I just want to thank my husband because I couldn’t have done it without him.

“My family have encouraged me every step of the way and when days are down and quiet they always keep my spirits up.”

Debra said she could not be happier that the shop is open.

Floral arrangementFloral arrangements (Image: Debra McDonald)She said: “The response so far has been absolutely amazing, I have had so many people come in and even before I opened I had people pop over and saying it was lovely to see me back on Market Street and it’s just been amazing.

“I am on cloud nine at the moment, my husband keeps saying that I keep smiling and I just feel like I am back at home in Westhoughton.”

Floral Fusion sells flowers both fresh and artificial, cards, perfumes and aftershaves, hanging baskets, door wreaths, handbags and hampers, purses, wallets and more.

Opening times are Monday to Saturday 9am to 4.30pm, although sometimes the shop will remain open until 5pm.

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on X @chloewjourno.