WHETHER it's wine or roses, Ruth Pike and Kate Randall can sniff out a winning sales formula.

The women have won a landmark licensing decision to sell bottles of bubbly alongside the blooms at their flower shop.

And the pair, who said they were inundated with requests from customers who wanted to buy wine, and especially champagne with their bouquets, are delighted.

Ruth said: "Often people give flowers as presents and what can be more romantic than receiving a dozen red roses and a bottle of champagne?

"It just seemed a logical thing to do, but putting the application in was a bit of a step into the unknown."

The decision by Eastbourne magistrates is the first of its kind in East Sussex.

At the moment florists Ruth and Kate only have a limited selection of drinks at their shop Grand Flowers in Meads Street, Eastbourne, mainly wines, cider, sherry and champagne.

But they intend to increase the range to include beer if there is a demand.

Garry Clark, licensing officer for the East Downs area which includes Eastbourne, was also pleased the application was successful.

He said: "This is the most unusual licence I have seen.

"I know the shop and it is very respectable. I don't think they will be getting many people in asking for a four pack and a bunch of flowers."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.