Police called to bridal shop

Uniformed officers were at the Arvella shop in Lyndhurst after what appeared to be an attempted break-in.

A panel that had been used to board up a window at the back of the shop had been removed and a step ladder had been left at the scene when police arrived, prompted by a burglar alarm being triggered at the shop.

The alarm went off around 1.30pm today at the shop which closed yesterday without explanation.

Police arrived at the High Street store after the back window appeared to have been forced open.

Officers said it was unclear whether anything was stolen or if anyone got into the building.

Police are not carrying out any further investigations into the incident as no complaint has been made.

A succession of tearful, brides, worried fiancées and angry parents had been arriving at the shop throughout the day after news of the closure.

Many have paid thousands of pounds and have had their dresses fitted for their big days this summer, some just weeks away.

It is the second Hampshire bridal boutique has abruptly closed its doors leaving dozens of brides-to-be without their dream frocks and out of pocket.

They have tried ringing and emailing the shop, but to no avail. No explanation has been posted on the shop window.

Many now face a race against time to find out if they can get their dresses back or if they will be forced to start shopping for a new outfit.

The Daily Echo has been inundated with customers who placed their orders - and paid in full - for their dresses from as early as before Christmas.

Devastated Joanne Wray, 31, a sales executive from Copy-thorne, is due to tie the knot with fiance Lloyd Davage on September 6 and has paid £1,000 for her perfect dress.

She said: "I ordered it in February. They told me it would be in the shop in the first week of June. Every time I called to see they told me they would call me later and never did, or that they were busy stocktaking.

"I decided to come to the shop during my lunchbreak and saw that it was closed. It has been a nightmare."

Throughout yesterday people who have purchased items from the shop congregated outside its prime town centre location as news spread of its closure.

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The Daily Echo yesterday called and emailed the shop but there was no reply from the manageress Lisa Clarkson.

The Daily Echo also left a message with Mrs Clarkson's mother, Pauline Rod, who is understood to deal with the company's accounts, but this was not returned either.

A message at the company's other branch, in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, which was open for business yesterday morning, was also not returned.

Arvella Bridal was set up in March 2006. It was known as Blackburn Steel Bride Ltd and Tulip Bridal Ltd before becoming Arvella.

According to Companies House, which lists all current businesses, Arvella has never filed any accounts and missed its January deadline to submit its accounts and its April deadline to submit its returns.

The limited company moved into the High Street about 18 months ago on a standard commercial lease.

Kevin Stratford, of Lyndhurst estate agent Stratford and Stratford, which let the property, said: "It is a shock to us. We have heard nothing from our tenants."

Wedding dress designers have also been picking up the pieces.

Manchester-based Charlotte Balbier said she would not charge extra for working to a tight deadline to get dresses finished for affected brides-to-be.

"I have spoken to 13 brides who have contacted me about their dresses. We have been able to help every girl," she said.

Commenting on the shop's closure, Miss Balbier said it was "a big mess" and claimed she was owed thousands of pounds.