A spokesman for Hampshire County Council's trading standards department said: "Apart from any money which may be at risk, this is clearly a very upsetting situation for those who may need their wedding dresses in the very near future.

"Little can be done until the owner can be contacted and the full situation is known. When any business closes down, those who have already paid money may risk losing it. However, someone who has paid more than £100 by credit card can seek to reclaim any money from the credit card company, but this may take time."

Any claims made on credit cards can be made under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

Anyone seeking advice can contact Trading Standards via Consumer Direct on 0845 404 05 06.

Daniel Cottrell, senior legal executive at Knight Polson solicitors, with offices in Eastleigh and Botley: "Where a limited company becomes impossible to contact either by telephone or at its trading premises, this may be an indication that the company has ceased to trade.

"Customers who have paid by debit card, cheque or cash may face a difficult task in obtaining their money back or the goods they have paid for.

"Customers can issue County Court proceedings for breach of contract to recover sums paid where there has been a failure by the company to deliver their side of the bargain. Recovery of any sum ordered by a court to be repaid to a customer where there has been a breach of contract may prove difficult where a company has ceased to trade from its premises.

"There are enforcement proceedings through the County Court which can be taken where court proceedings have been issued by a customer and a judgment has been obtained against the company. Customers will only be able to recover their loss where the company has sufficient funds or assets to meet its liabilities.

"The only other option is to issue winding up proceedings against the company through the court, asking the court to wind up the company because of its inability to pay its debts. Such proceedings are very expensive without any guarantee that customers will recover their loss. Winding up proceedings can only be issued where the sum due to a customer exceeds £750 and where a statutory demand has been served and has expired.

"If a winding up order is made against the company, the company's assets are sold and the proceeds are used to repay creditors, although such funds may not be sufficient to repay creditors in full, or in part, or at all. Customers will only be able to recover their loss where the company has sufficient funds or assets to meet its liabilities."