A BALLOON designer is determined to try to help keep people smiling during the coronavirus pandemic.

Lynne Myerscough-Newton runs For Any Occasion from a stall at Barrow Indoor Market, supplying custom-designed helium and air-filled balloons for events throughout south Cumbria.

These include birthday parties, wedding and baby showers or one-off gifts between friends and family members.

Her spectacular products include balloon bouquets, arches, centrepieces and backdrops.

The market hall is currently closed to help halt the spread of the virus.

But people can still order balloon bouquets from Lynne to be sent to members of their family and friends.

She can arrange for them to be delivered in ways that comply with the Government’s social distancing rules.

“It is very important to cheer people up at this time,” said Lynne.

“It is vital to think about family, connections and keeping positive.”

Lynne, 42, was born and bred in Barrow and attended Dowdales School at Dalton.

She was a drama and stagecraft teacher and Lower School Learning Director at the former Alfred Barrow School in Barrow for 10 years.

She had to give that up when she developed Multiple Sclerosis but was keen to continue doing something artistic and creative.

“What is more practical than creating a massive balloon sculpture?” she said.

She has just passed two examinations run by Qualatex, which makes high-quality latex balloons - a basic ballooning exam to become a member of the Qualatex Network and a balloon bouquet and delivery exam.

“Who would have thought you take balloon exams!" said Lynne.

“Anyone can learn how to put some balloons together but Qualatex want people who use their balloons to be highly skilled.”

The courses involved working through seven-hour tutorials on DVDs, complete with exercises, followed by an examination to test what they have learned.

One of the things taught was how to make balloons last longer.

“A single helium-filled balloon usually stays up between five and seven hours – overnight it will have started to go down. But the balloons we supply will stay up for seven days.”

The courses also teach the best way to put balloons inside other balloons – a process which means there is less chance of helium escaping – plus how to do special coatings inside and outside to make the balloons last longer.

Her designs are inspired by the local landscape.