THE owners of a Hampshire bridalwear shop have battled to save their clients’ weddings after a burst pipe nearly ruined the special day for ten brides.

business partners Jeanette Millard and her niece Kate Richards were forced to shut Romsey-based Gorgeous Gowns after the boutique was saturated under a foot of water, causing more than £20,000 of damage.

Designer silk gowns, prom dresses and bridesmaid dresses worth between £1,000 and £2,000 were among the 14 dresses that were ruined when a leaking pipe from a flat above the shop went undetected for three days over the Christmas break.

The remaining 50 dresses had to be sent to specialist cleaners to be salvaged, costing more than £3,000.

The shop was forced to close after part of the ceiling fell down and electrics were damaged.

But despite the setback Jeanette has battled on to make sure the weddings go ahead as planned.

“I can only describe what happened to us as disastrous,” she said.

“When I saw the damage I thought this is it, we will be going under.

“But we have ploughed on and have kept determined.”

Kate added: “It was much worse than I thought it was going to be. The ceiling was down, the lights had smashed onto the floor, the electricity wasn’t working, water was running down the walls. It was just saturated.

“Most of the dresses were sopping wet. It was our worst nightmare.”

Luckily all the customers’ orders and shoes were in a back room unaffected by the water.

Although the shop is closed while builders start work plastering, decorating and repairing the ceiling, the business partners are still seeing their brides-to-be by appointment at Jeanette’s home in Dibden Purlieu.

Jeanette, said: “Our customers have been lovely and very supportive. It is very uplifting in the face of a disaster.”

The business is counting the full cost of the catastrophe, which has resulted in them losing new customers for January and February – traditionally the busiest months of the year.

So far the pair, who have owned Gorgeous Gowns for six-and-a-half-years, revealed that takings are already 80 per cent down on last year.

Jeanette said: “Looking at the accounts, it is very scary. We have lost out on all those people who would normally drop into the shop to have a look at the collection.”

The shop is due to reopen at the end of March. Call 01794 331916 to arrange an appointment.

Gorgeous Gowns’ dresses will be on the catwalk at Botley Grange Hotel on February 28 at a wedding show from 11am until 4pm.