Florist hires 'chief emotions translator' to deal with thorny issue of expressing feelings... after research found over a third of people leave note accompanying flowers blank

An online florist has hired a 'chief emotions translator' to help Britons express their feelings to loved ones.

Research found that more than a third of people struggle with writer's block when they send flowers to friends and family, so end up leaving the card blank.

Senders say they are afraid of writing the wrong thing and can't find the right words to show how they feel.

In a bid to create stronger emotional connections and combat loneliness, flower delivery firm Interflora UK has brought in a specialist to help customers to speak from the heart.

The firm has hired poet and writer Chloe Laws as its 'chief emotions translator' to encourage people to open up.

It comes after survey carried out by the company found 88 per cent of customers struggle to share how they're feeling because of social anxiety.

Of those surveyed, 36 per cent find it hard to find the right words and 33 per cent are afraid of getting it wrong.

And the emotional writer's block makes it harder to develop deeper relationships.

According to the Interflora research, the average person has 8.6 people in their social circle but only feel a meaningful connection with 56 per cent or around five of them.

But that isn't because people are cold and unfeeling. In fact, research showed the opposite.

Most respondents said they would like to express their emotions better and make more meaningful connections.

Laws said: 'Most of us feel a lot of emotions, all the time, but we struggle to give them words - they exist in our heads, via imaginary conversations and daydreams.

'Tapping into emotional intelligence and learning to successfully tell people what they mean to you, is the key to more fulfilling and deep relationships. 

'There's no secret trick to it, just practice.

'Make small steps towards being more expressive, like hugging your parent; sending your bestie a text telling them you love them; calling someone you're proud of; or sending flowers to someone you're thinking of.'

Suggestions for saying sorry include 'you didn't deserve how I treated you, and I will show you how sorry I am going forward'.

The florist shared ways to tell someone you're proud of them by saying 'I'm made up for you! Well done' or 'I never doubted you for a moment'.

And to say 'I love you' with style, it recommended telling your partner 'you are the love of my life - always have been, always will be'.

For those searching for a tongue-in-cheek way to say those three special words, it suggested penning a humorous message like 'I would press pause on Fifa for you' or 'Roses are red, violets are blue, Ryan Gosling is married, so I'll settle for you.'

Some suggestions to jazz up a thank you note to a friend included 'We've been through thick and thin and I appreciate all that you do' and 'Thank you to the best partner in crime someone could ask for!'