A BRIDAL shop looks to have closed down suddenly leaving scores of brides without wedding dresses for their big day.

Arvella Bridal in Silver Street, Bradford on Avon, was closed for most of this week and the phone was left ringing inside.

Rows of wedding dresses lined the rails ready to be collected but the doors remained locked.

Its sister shop in Hampshire closed on Tuesday after its windows were white-washed overnight leaving many angry brides-to-be congregated outside.

When customers of the Bradford shop heard what had happened in Hampshire they tried contacting the shop.

Emma Thew, from North Bradley, who is getting married tomorrow was told on Monday she could collect her £900 dress this week.

Her fiancé Rob Escott, who went down to the shop to collect it, said: "The dress is all paid for and on the rack. My fiancée is beside herself. She chose this dress eight months ago; she fell in love with it."

The shop is run by Pauline Rod, of St Margaret's Street, whose daughter Lisa Clarkson owns the Hampshire branch.

Mrs Rod, who is also an associate at Geoffrey M Saxty estate agents, was said to be out of the country until next week.

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

But there is confusion about whether the company has gone into liquidation or not, as Companies House still has it listed as an active company.

Another bride-to-be, who is getting married on July 4, said she had £600 worth of bridesmaid dresses inside the shop.

Laura Pepler, 24, of Brabant Way in Westbury, said: "I ordered three bridesmaid's dresses from them in November. They have all been fitted, paid for and are all in there.

"If they knew this was happening, I can't believe they would be so cruel as to not tell anyone."

Kate Sturge, 33, of Derry Hill, said her 27-year-old sister Caroline Pewsham had paid £900 for her wedding dress last July, but she has not received it. She is getting married in August.

Mrs Sturge said: "We managed to get in touch with the designer in Warrington and they said they have had the dress since January but wouldn't release it because they had not been paid by Arvella."

Richard Marsh, of Exeter-based wedding shoe designer Rainbow Club, said: "They owe me £5,000 and put in an order for £2,500 of stock only three weeks ago when they must have known they were in financial trouble."

Despite repeated calls to the business and Mrs Rod's home there was no reply.