A Suffolk florist was chosen to create the winners’ bouquets for the podium ceremony at this Thursday’s Tour of Britain. 

Lisa Tumilty, from Pretty Little Flowers in Felixsowe, will prepare four floral arrangements, which could be the most important bouquets she has ever made. 

The 120-mile Suffolk leg of the Tour of Britain will start and finish in Felixstowe. 

With televised flag-to-flag coverage, including the podium presentation, Lisa’s bouquets will be seen across the globe. 

The mother of two said: "I couldn’t believe it when I was asked to come up with the flowers for such a prestigious event.

"The thought of the bouquets being seen everywhere is just amazing." 

Lisa opened a shop in Hamilton Road 18 months ago after studying floristry at what was then Otley College, having previously worked for the Co-op in Ipswich.  

She made the decision to become a florist after creating floral arrangements for her mother’s grave when she died 13 years ago. 

She said: "People asked me why I didn’t take it up professionally so, after training, I did. It was a big decision to open my own shop, but since then I have never looked back." 

With the bouquets set to coordinate with the winning cyclists’ four different jerseys – in red, white and blue, grey, white and green – the arrangements presented Lisa with quite a challenge. 

She said: "I will be using a selection of flowers, including willow, roses, chasmanthiums and craspedia, also known as billy balls." 

Lisa has already gotten the Tour of Britain bug, having decorated a bike in her shop window in honour of the occasion.  

The Felixstowe florist added: "The race is due to go past the shop in the morning, and I will be waiving them on. It is so exciting."