Teenage beauty queen Heidi Leake has been left heartbroken after thieves stole her bespoke ball gown – following a charity fashion show.
The 14-year-old schoolgirl had modelled the Linda Worrall Ballroom dress at an event to raise money for Together for Short Lives at Florence Sports & Social Club.
But when her mum, Debbie Hughes, later came to unpack the dress days later, she discovered it was missing.
The 48-year-old believes the gown has been stolen while loading the clothes in the car on the car park on July 14.
Debbie, from Lightwood, has already contacted the police and she is now urging people to keep an eye out for the striking ivory dress, which Heidi wears during ballroom dancing competitions.
She said: „We had the dress at a fashion show at the social club from 7pm to 9pm.
„My daughter took her Linda Worrall Ballroom gown to model on the night.
„At the end of the show all of the dresses, around 40, were packed away in dress bags and put into the cars parked outside.
„There were four of us going in and out moving dresses and when we came to unpack them the ballroom dress was missing.
„This was the first time we realised it had gone as there were so many dresses and a couple of us packing away. We all assumed someone else had packed it away.“
Blythe Bridge High School student Heidi – who takes part in ballroom and Latin dance contests across the country – is one of the finalists in the Miss Junior Teen Great Britain.
She is raising money for Together for Short Lives ahead of the finals this October.
Debbie, who owns The Prom Dressing Room in Forsbrook, said her daughter had been her devastated by the fact the dress had vanished.
She added: „The thing is, it’s a bespoke ballroom competition dress and the first dress my daughter had.
„I spent months stoning it with crystals before her first competition and it’s very sentimental. My daughter is only 14 and absolutely distraught.“
Heidi said she was devastated the dress had been taken.
The teenager said: „This was my first ever junior Ballroom competition dress which I’ve worn to compete at The Nationals at The Winter Gardens in Blackpool, my mum spent over 2 months stoning it by hand and it’s a really special dress to me“
„I’m absolutely devastated that someone obviously know where it is, my mums even offered a reward for its return as she know how much upset this has caused me.. I just want to have it back, even if it’s anonymously left somewhere for me to collect“
„I train up to 10 hours a week and get so excited to compete but now can’t as I have no dress to wear it’s heartbreaking “
Police are now appealing for witnesses to the theft to come forward.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: „We received a call on July 20 to reports a ballroom dress had been stolen following a fashion show at Florence Sports and Social Club, on Lightwood Road, on the evening of Friday, July 14. Witnesses should contact us.“Read more at:cheap formal dresses online | plus size formal dresses