A BRIDE-TO-BE has been left without a wedding dress just three weeks before her big day after a bridal shop closed without warning.

Melissa Drake, 33, paid £950 up front for her custom-made gown from Fabulous Brides by Layla, in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, in May.

When she arrived at the shop on Wednesday afternoon for her first dress fitting, Miss Drake discovered the doors were locked, the lights were out and furniture had been cleared.

Layla Ringwood, who set up Fabulous Brides by Layla in September last year, is thought to have shut the business unexpectedly because of health reasons.

Miss Drake, who is set to marry Kevin Reid, 39, in Hockley on Saturday, October 26, said: “I went into panic mode yesterday.

“My first thought was, I’m getting married in three weeks and I don’t have a dress, so what on earth am I going to wear?

“I went round all the bridal shops in Southend and finally found a new one, which is lovely.

“It cost me another £900, but the money wasn’t my main worry.

“The only saviour in all of this is I hadn’t tried the dress on, so I will never actually knowwhat I’m missing and I can start afresh.

“Organising a wedding is already stressful enough, so this is the last thing I needed.”

Cash was used to pay most of the cost of the dress, but Miss Drake is hoping the bank can help refund the remaining balance paid on credit card.

A few dresses remain hanging on rails inside Fabulous Dresses by Layla and neighbouring business owners claim Mrs Ringwood, 31, visited the shop on Wednesday morning.

Speaking on a pre-recorded answer phone message on the shop’s number, she said: “Due to unforeseen circumstances and health reasons, Fabulous Brides is no longer trading. I’m very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.”