THE owner of a bridal shop in Shoebury has come to the rescue of about 50 distraught brides who have been left without dresses for big day.

Alison Burt, owner of LA Bride Essex, in High Street, is attempting to co-ordinate donations of dresses for women whose orders have not been fulfilled by Prestige Packages, an online wedding shop that closed earlier this month.

Prestige’s Facebook page was taken down on Sunday, March 15, with its website following soon after, leaving brides in turmoil and without a dress.

Ms Burt, 50, saw the brides’ desperate appeals for help on Facebook and has been rushing to their aid, even making seven bridesmaids’ dresses for Nicky White, from Romford, after her £800 order was not delivered.

Ms Burt said: “It’s horrible for these women.

“Some of their weddings are only weeks away.

“The majority of people affected are from Essex, but it does go further.

“We’ve had one from Cornwall, and we’ve had people donating things from all over the country – people’s generosity is amazing.”

Ms Burt has set up two Facebook groups to help those let down by Prestige Packages, one trying to document every order that has gone unfulfilled, and another for anyone who has anything to donate.

The dressmaker is also offering to undertake free alterations for any victim who needs a donated dress refitted.

Miss White is now helping Ms Burt to co-ordinate the allocation of the donated dresses.

She said: “Alison is my fairy godmother and I will not be able to thank her enough.

“I have spoken to brides and had them in tears as, like me, they paid by bank transfer and we have no protection for payments like this.”

If anyone has any dresses to donate to the cause, call Ms Burt on 01702 826482 or visit https:// www. f a c e b o o k . c o m / groups/903547893021227/ ?fref=ts

'Girls' lies ruined my business'

THE woman behind Prestige Packages says she is taking legal action against a group of women she claims runied her business.

Kelly McCoy, from Brentwood, has hired solicitors to sue a group of women she accuses of spreading false information about her intentions.

The group has been sent “cease and desist” letters, but the businesswoman has now stepped up her action against them.

She said: “I do owe people money through failure of my business, but statements that I am a scammer are untrue.

“A group of girls spent months ruining my business online.

“I have customers willing to act as witnesses for me along with my regular wedding suppliers, who I dealt with on a daily basis.

“I contacted Action Fraud and Trading Standards myself to provide proof and I have advised all of them of my address and contact details as I have nothing to hide.

“I’ve lost my business that I myself worked three long years to make successful because of this and in all honesty I am just devastated.

“I’m devastated they continued until I lost everything, devastated for the brides I now owe money to because their continuous lies eventually led to me losing my business, and just devastated that human beings could carry on and on until I am in such a state.”