An independent in Salisbury city centre is taking part in a mystery BBC show with celebrity involvement.

Brides by Victoria, in New Street, will close next week - from Monday, July 19 until Saturday, July 24 - for a makeover as part of the show.

Shop owner Helen Astbury says it will involve a "dramatic change" for the shop's interior.

She also hints that there may be a couple of celebrities involved.

Members of the family-run business travelled down to Brighton last week for filming and met some of the other contestants.

"It's very exciting, and filming was really fun," Helen said.

She added that the last few years have been tumultuous for Salisbury's independents, with first the Novichok poisonings and, more recently, months of intermittent lockdowns.

"We haven't just had Covid, we've had Novichok before that and small business in Salisbury is in a dreadful state.

"We had brides from all over the country, but when Novichok and the Salisbury poisonings happened, that killed us fast.

"We still haven't recovered. At the beginning of last year, it looked like it was starting to pick up again. We've worked hard to get it back but turnover is still not back to the level it was.

"Salisbury is a beautiful city, and people don't want to come back yet, but there's no reason for them not to. Salisbury needs this."

The shop will reopen next Saturday (July 24) with the new look.

Brides by Victoria is a family business offering bridal consultations, new bridal party dresses and accessories, stocking designs by Maggie Sottero, Romantica and Alexia.

Get more Salisbury news. 

You can also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date.

If you want online news with fewer ads, unlimited access and reader rewards - plus a chance to support our local journalism - find out more about registering or a digital subscription.

Email newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.