A BRIDAL shop owner believes a smoking light in his shop that ruined all his downstairs stock could actually be a blessing in disguise.

Dresses at the Leslie Hatcher store in Temple Street in the town centre, were left blackened after smoke filled the store last Friday, but owner Leslie Hatcher had said all customers’ dresses were safe.

Despite Mr Hatcher trying to allay his customers’ fears, the shop was inundated with calls from concerned brides who needed reassurance.

But Mr Hatcher said the damage had in the end proved an opportunity to rejuvenate his stock.

He said: “There’s a positive benefit from this, which is that now as a result of the insurance claim we’re in a position to restock the bridesmaid and prom dresses of the next season’s fashions so we’re absolutely up to date and getting the very latest fashions.”

The damage to the shop was inspected by the insurance company this week and Mr Hatcher described it as “minimal”.

But the 30 to 40 dresses that were damaged, all bridesmaid and prom dresses except for three wedding dresses in the shop window, will have to be replaced.

“Once we got over the initial shock and had a look at it we realised that we could recover the situation very quickly,”added Mr Hatcher.

“We have been here a long time and we have a good reputation this is no big deal and the shop will be better for it.”

The damage occurred when a light in the shop window overheated and started smoking.

A passer-by alerted the emergency services and the smoke that had filled the shop was cleared quickly.

Fortunately customer dresses and the rest of the sample wedding dresses are kept upstairs and were unharmed.

Mr Hatcher said the dresses that needed replacing, which is all the stock downstairs, have already been ordered and should all be coming into the shop next week.

“It will be business as usual by the end of next week and we’re very pleased that we have been able to stock the shop with the latest fashions in good time for the latest season,” he said.

However, despite his reassurance to customers in the Advertiser on Monday he said inevitably he has had many calls from worried brides-to-be.“Bridal shops are very emotive places and everyone gets worried,” he said.

The shop remains open for business.