Florida store giving away Valentine's jewellery

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Reuters) - You may have lost your job or home but you can still get a Valentine's Day gift for your sweetheart, thanks to a Florida jewellery store.

Diamonds Direct of St. Petersburg is giving away 100 sterling silver pendants worth $99 (68 pounds) each to anyone who comes into the store with a job termination or home foreclosure notice.

The store announced the offer on Tuesday and by Wednesday had given away 75 of the necklaces, according to marketing director Christine Joyner.

Joyner said many of those seeking the free jewellery had lost professional or technology jobs because of the poor economy.

"We've had so many heart-breaking stories," she said in an interview.

Joyner said she knew of about 35 jewellery stores across the country that were making similar offers.

(Reporting by Robert Green; editing by Jim Loney and Bill Trott)