Closure of dress shop hits prom plans

Brides-to-be and school students preparing for their proms have been left without dresses for their big days after a bridal shop shut suddenly.

Orders had been placed months in advance with Marion Vaughan Bridal Studio, in Lower High Street, Stourbridge.

But worried customers said they were stunned when they arrived at the store to see the shelves and racks stripped.

They say they have made repeated calls to the shop in a bid to get an answer.

Liz Brewerton, aged 53, ordered her daughter's prom dress, which had still not arrived with just three days to go. She paid deposits and other costs of £140 for the emerald dress in February ahead of settling a £275 bill upon delivery.

Mrs Brewerton, of Wordsley, today said that she had received an email from the firm which said Marion Vaughan Bridal Studio Ltd had "ceased trading" from last Saturday.

She said the email stated that the firm offered its sincere apologies for any inconvenience and said it would be transferring her deposit back to her bank account.

Mrs Brewerton's 16-year-old daughter Laura, a pupil at Summerhill School in Kingswinford, had looked at a number of dresses at different stores before settling on her dream design.

Greg Chapman and his bride-to-be Jacqueline Dunn placed a £65 deposit on February 11 to order a £200 wedding dress which would take up to 12 weeks to arrive. "It leaves you feeling numb when it hits you," said Mr Chapman, aged 39, who is getting married on June 2.

Mr Chapman, a telecoms firm project manager, claimed he was assured by the firm again on May 1 that the dress would be ready for collection within two or three days.

No-one from Marion Vaughan Bridal Studio Ltd was available for comment.