IT was set to be the happiest day of her life. But for bride-to-be Teba Diatta, of Acomb, York, it turned into a nightmare when she was jilted by her fianc - and left footing the bill for the wedding dress.

The 25-year-old said she was full of excitement at the prospect of getting married and was extremely "embarrassed and upset" when her partner pulled out.

Ms Diatta, a charity worker, said her ordeal was made worse when staff at Brides of York, in Micklegate, York, told her they were unable to refund her £200 deposit on the wedding gown.

She claimed she asked for her money back less than a month after making the order, but was turned down, now this month she has finally been forced to collect the dress she may never wear.

Ms Diatta, who was set to marry in July, 2006, and ordered the dress in late 2005, has spoken out after finally facing up to her ordeal and collecting the bridal gown from the store.

The shop keeps dresses at the store free of charge for up to 12 months after the wedding date.

Store managers said customers could only cancel within 48 hours as the shop was forced to pay the designers or manufacturers after that period.

"Obviously I was gutted," said Ms Diatta, who eventually paid for the dress in full in an effort to re-sell it. "It was so embarrassing because we had booked to get married in York Minster and everything. I was literally a hermit for ages because I couldn't face seeing people."

Ms Diatta claimed she paid the deposit "in a hurry" after being given the impression the design might not be available when she returned from university months later.

"I don't want to harm their business or anything but I think these shops should look at their policies," she said. "I think other people should know what could happen to them."

Ms Diatta paid the deposit in mid-September, 2005, and tried to cancel it on October 6, 2005. She eventually paid the full amount for the £400 dress in January, 2006, and her mother recently picked it up from the shop.

Sheila Guest, who has run the shop for 12 years, said their policies were the same as "most other bridal wear retailers".

She said customers normally had 48 hours to cancel a bridal dress order or they would lose their deposit as once orders had been processed the shop was liable for the cost.

"Once the order has been processed there is nothing we can do - we've got to pay the manufacturer or the designer whatever happens," Mrs Guest said.

"It's awful for us when this sort of thing happens and we get upset for them (the customers)."

Mrs Guest said it was the shop's policy for staff to inform brides that there is a chance their make of dress of choice might not be available in the future. This was because the manufacturers or designers can discontinue at any time for a variety of reasons.

Mrs Guest said Ms Diatta had signed a contract to buy the dress, which was made to the design she chose from the sample and in her size. A deposit had been required from Ms Diatta so that the made-to-measure dress could be ordered.

Mrs Guest said their policy was to keep dresses at the store free of charge for up to 12 months after the wedding date.

"We have dresses in the storeroom now that have been there for two years."