Reporters came from Russia with love for a Cheam grandmother they spotted in the Sutton Guardian.

Doreen Gibbs, 73, has become of star of Russian television after making more than 50 Olympic flags.

While her 74-year-old husband, Keith, was on a two-month sailing trip across the Atlantic, Doreen has decorated Cheam town centre with brightly coloured flags.

Russian TV bosses spotted the coverage of her story and visited Cheam to broadcast it to millions of Olympics fans across Russia.

The mother of two and grandmother of five bought the material from charity shops.

She said: “I had to do something to keep myself busy while Keith was away, so I decided to do this to make the town look nice for the Olympics.

“I’m really looking forward to the Games, my daughter-in-law got us tickets to the horse riding and to some Paralympic events – I can’t wait to go.

“It’s a celebration for the whole world and I’m glad to play a small part in it.”

Doreen has sent some of her flags to relatives as far afield as Australia, America, Canada and Germany.

She added: “It’s a lovely way to stay in touch and it’s nice to think of them being seen all over the world.”

Munisa Usmanova, a reporter for Channel One Russia news, said: “To us Doreen embodies the spirit of the Games.

"She’s a very unique lady and I know that our viewers across the world will be charmed by her idea.”