CONFUSION surrounds a west Wiltshire bridal shop today after its sister shop in Hampshire closed suddenly leaving scores of brides without wedding dresses for their big day.

Arvella Bridal in Silver Street, Bradford on Avon, was closed today and no one was answering the phone.

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

It's sister shop in Lyndhurst, Hampshire, closed on Tuesday and liquidators were due to arrive today.

Pauline Rod, who owns the shops with her daughter Lisa Clarkson, was said to be away until next Monday by staff at the Bradford estate agents in which she also works.

Worried brides and grooms turned up at the shop today to try and collect their gowns.

Rob Escott, of North Bradley, is getting married to fiancée Emma Thew on Saturday.

Mr Escott said: "Emma called them on Monday and they said to come and collect it today.

"It's all paid for, all £900, it's just sitting on the rack waiting to be collected.

"My fiancée is beside herself with worry."

Another woman said her sister had paid £900 for her dress back in July 2007 but had not received it yet.

Kate Sturge, 33, of Derry Hill, said her sister Caroline Cooper, 27, of Pewsham, 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."

A sign on the door of the shop in Bradford on Avon says they are usually closed on Wednesdays but people in town said the shop was not open yesterday either.

Julia Munday, of Perfect Day Bridal Rooms in Bradford on Avon, said: "We've had lots of calls from anxious brides, even though we are nothing to do with Arvella.

"I went to see whether the shop was open yesterday but it wasn't."

If you are a customer of the Bradford on Avon store and are concerned about its mystery closure, leave a comment below or call reporter Charley Morgan on (01225) 773645.