'We lost hundreds on our dream wedding dresses'

A bride to be said she "broke down in tears" to her bank when she learned she had lost almost £1,500 on her wedding dress after the sudden closure of a bridal shop.

Kelly Lee, 39, was one of several women who say they have been left out of pocket after learning La Belle Boutique in Huthwaite Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, had closed.

Customers claimed they received emails from the shop saying it was no longer in business, and said they were now facing the prospect of not having the dress they wanted for their big day.

A spokesperson for Strong Anderson, an insolvency practitioner firm, said it had been instructed by La Belle Boutique to place it into liquidation.

Ms Lee, from Sutton-in-Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, said she was due to be married in October but had now lost out on her "dream dress".

She said she received an email from the shop at about 02:30 BST on Sunday.

"For the last couple of days I've not slept," said Ms Lee. "When I read the email I put my phone down and broke down in tears.

"I was really upset and crying to the bank, who told me they couldn't help me because I'd paid by bank transfer."

Allie Gallon, 30, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, said she had been attempting to find a replacement dress online, with her wedding 10 weeks away.

"It's made me feel awful," she said. "It's supposed to be one of the best experiences of your life.

"Going and picking your dress, marrying your partner and being so excited for all your plans. But it's so close and now I'm going through the planning stages again.

"I've had to tell my partner that I might not be having a proper wedding dress which is upsetting because that's what you dream of when you plan your big day."

Another bride to be, Charlotte Bradley, 35, from South Normanton in Derbyshire, said she paid for her dress in February ahead of her wedding in September.

She said she had been left £1,600 out of pocket – nine weeks before her wedding day.

Ms Bradley said: "I received an email to say that the shop was closed with immediate effect.

"I was absolutely devastated. I've got nine weeks left - to get another dress, I've got to pay again."

An email seen by the BBC, which was sent by La Belle Boutique to customers, said those who paid with a credit card could request a refund from their provider.

In a statement, Strong Anderson said: "On Sunday, the director of La Belle Bridal Boutique Limited announced that it had closed its doors and was instructing insolvency practitioners to place the company into creditor's voluntary liquidation.

"The company has now instructed Strong Anderson, a licenced insolvency practitioner firm, to assist in placing the company into creditors voluntary liquidation.

"Strong Anderson appreciates this is a difficult time for customers impacted by the proposed liquidation of the company.

"Strong Anderson are not sure at this time how many brides are affected or the financial position of the company, we are currently obtaining as much information as possible so we can in turn report to creditors."

The firm also confirmed the shop had closed and stock had been moved "to the second trading/outlet premises".

Additional reporting by Celia Kellet and Ash Geaney.

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