15363/3DEVASTATED bride-to-be Jan Williams has lost her dream outfit and fears she may have to postpone her September wedding, after the owner of a Bath bridal shop fled the country because his business was failing.

Ms Williams, 55, of Yeoman Way, Trowbridge, was left in the lurch after the collapse of Bride and Groom, in St James Parade. As well as the dress she has also lost her £350 deposit.

She said: "It's a nightmare. There are loads and loads of women who have been affected.

"I'm just devastated. We might have to postpone the wedding and I don't expect we'll be able to afford a honeymoon now."

Ms Williams and van driver Barry Church have been planning their September wedding, followed by a sit-down meal and reception, for months. She ordered her dream bodice and corset outfit in March, and was expecting it to arrive from Australia at the end of July.

She only found out Bride and Groom had gone into administration when a friend phoned her at Capita in Trowbridge, where she is a receptionist.

She said: "I was so upset I took the rest of the day off work and I've taken today off as well to try to sort it out. This is my third wedding and I wanted it to be perfect."

According to Roger Isaacs, of Milsted Langdon chartered accountants and insolvency practitioners, who was appointed administrator last week, Bride and Groom's owner Gaetano Nocera fled to Italy because the business was failing and he was finding it too stressful.

Mr Isaacs thinks about 280 people have been affected by the closure, although he has found few records.

He said: "All we have been able to do is rummage around in the shop to see what we could find. There has been no word from the owner." The stock has been sold to a Bristol business, which will ensure clothes that have arrived get to the right customers.

He has also arranged with Bristol-based Classic Man for discount suit hire for anyone due to hire from Bride and Groom.

He said: "This is small consolation to the customers who have lost money and have no dress

"We took on something that will be quite a lot of trouble in the hope something can be salvaged."

Anyone affected by the shop's closure can call Milsted Langdon's helpline on (01823) 445593.