Bury St Edmunds friends offer free hugs in town centre to spread a little love ahead of Valentine's Day

A group of four friends and a dog took to Bury St Edmunds town centre on Saturday to spread a little love ahead of Valentine’s Day.

Friends Cat, Mandy, Silke, Ellie Maria and dog Charli stood outside Poundland, Marks & Spencer and Abbeygate Street to offer free hugs to passers-by.

Hugger Ellie Maria said: “It’s been a difficult couple of years for everyone and people felt very lonely and isolated so that’s why we decided to share some love and support in the community.”

Ellie Maria said she gave out 80 hugs throughout the day, while Charli the dog was popular with the children.

The friends hope to be out and about the same time next year and possibly could be seen as early as this summer, well and truly proving it must have been love.