A DESPERATE couple have had to pay another £264 for wedding suit hire after the financial problems of menswear company Greenwoods risked ruining their big day.

Natasha Harbinson and David Smithson, both 26 from Alexandra Road, Darwen, had ordered and paid for six morning suits at the menswear chain’s Mall Blackburn store.

When Greenwoods went into administration last week they were told they would neither receive the suits or the £528 they paid for their October 7 wedding at the Whitehall Hotel.

They contacted the supplier, who is providing the items for a further £264, claiming they had not been paid for thousands of wedding suits ordered through Greenwoods.

The chain also has a store in St James’s Street, Burnley and Chapel Street, Chorley. Both are still trading.

Miss Harbinson said: “We ordered the suits and paid in good faith and were told four weeks before our wedding they were being delivered.

“Luckily they offered to do it for half-price.

“We have had to pay £264 extra to stop out wedding being ruined and it feels like Greenwoods have stolen out money. We’re gutted.

“There must be dozens, if not hundreds of other couples in East Lancashire in the same situation. It’s disgraceful and distressing”

Tracy Walsh, 44, and her 30-year-old fiancée Mark Fisher, also from Darwen, paid £375 to hire four suits to be told they would not be provided for their November 18 wedding.

She said: “It’s disgusting. We have now gone elsewhere.”

A spokesman for administrators Deloitte said the firm which provided the wedding hire service to Greenwoods had terminated its supply agreement.

He said customers affected might have a claim on the administration of the business or through their credit card provider.

The spokesman added:”Greenwoods does not own the wedding garments hired to customers. These are owned and supplied to Greenwoods by a third party.

"The administrators have been informed by the third party that it will no longer supply Greenwoods.

“We understand that the supplier has been contacting customers regarding completion of any unfulfilled Greenwoods orders direct to customers.

“Customers with further enquiries can contact Emily Thorne at Deloitte on 0121 696 8569 or via email ethorne@deloitte.co.uk.”