One of the UK's leading fashion designers, Elspeth Gibson, has had her store in Knightsbridge raided. Thieves, that smashed the glass door and broke into the store on Pont Street, took dresses from her spring/summer collection.100 handmade creations worth at least 1 million pounds were stolen.

The British designer's assistant, Lisa Redman, told the BBC that the burglars "knew what they were doing" and "cherry-picked the most valuable designs" from a collection made up of "works of art as well as dresses."

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman confirmed officers were investigating the early-morning raid, but Redman said she had been told the dresses are likely to have already left the country.

Ms Gibson has become known for her "ultra-feminine" look using sequins, feathers and ribbons. She regularly exhibits her ranges during British Fashion Week and was named best British designer at the Elle Style Awards in 1999. Рук designs, which sell for anything between 4,000 and 12,000 pounds, are worn by the likes of Elizabeth Hurley, Elle Macpherson and Uma Thurman.