A Southampton wedding shop that closed suddenly is the second bridal business to shut down in the same building within two years, it has emerged.

A Daily Echo investigation has revealed that one woman has been involved in both businesses.

Rena Zhang, 37, was a director for just 27 days of Champagne and Lace Bridal Lounge, which stopped trading without warning last week leaving the wedding plans of dozens of brides-to-be in tatters.

She also ran the previous shop, Rena Zhang Couture, in the same High Street building, which closed last year. The company behind it was dissolved voluntarily on November 2, 2010.

A string of distraught women have been contacting the Daily Echo describing how they handed Champagne and Lace Bridal Lounge their hard-earned money for the dress of their dreams They have now received letters notifying them that the shop has stopped trading. But the letter does not mention how and when they will receive a refund or if they will get what they ordered.

The letter i n s t r u c t s them to write to Champagne and Lace Bridal Lounge at an address in Manchester.

Yet when the Daily Echo contacted that address a receptionist said there was no such company operating there.

Companies House records name the sole director as Shuzhen Yuan, a 67-year-old Swedish national. She is also the company secretary.

But official documents show that on December 14 last year Rena Zhang was appointed as a director of the company for just 27 days.

Yesterday the Daily Echo reported how Kellie Wall, 19, had handed over £900 for the wedding dress of her dreams.

The mum-of-one had received a letter notifying her that the firm had closed unexpectedly.

Kellie feared she would be without her dress with just six weeks to go until the big day.

But after the Daily Echo tracked down former Champagne and Lace Bridal Lounge manager Emma Jephcott she was reunited with her dress yesterday after travelling to Hayling Island to pick it up.

Kellie said that she was told that staff had taken dresses that were paid for and ready to go out of the shop before they had to hand back the keys last Friday with the intention of giving them to the customers.

It is understood that the closure has affected brides with dresses ordered but not yet made.

Other brides-to-be have come forward since the Daily Echo revealed yesterday that Champagne and Lace Bridal Lounge had closed.

Katie Hill, a nurse from Woolston, Southampton, has paid £1,325 for her dress, but was left in floods of tears when she received the letter telling her the business was shutting up shop.

She said: “It was absolute shock and disbelief. Words cannot describe how amazing I felt in that dress.”

The 27-year-old said she does not know how she can afford a new one in time for her wedding in February.

However, well-known local powerboat racer Shelley Jory- Leigh,who is a partner in wedding shop Brides of Southampton, in Portswood Road, has offered a glimmer of hope to those disappointed.

She is offering a 40 per cent discount on dresses.

Shelley said: “We will not be making a profit out of this but will be able to help any brides who have been let down.”

Proof of purchase is required from Champagne and Lace.

Tanisha Engel-Gilmour, from Brockenhurst, had been paid £600 in instalments for a £925 dress.

She said: “I was shocked when I read the letter. Then I was angry that there was no contact number.

There was just this address.

“It was meant to be a happy day.

It is not supposed to be this stressful.”