Picking the perfect dress is a crucial part in every bride's wedding day preparations.

But with the cost of getting hitched soaring, many women are combing charity shops for the ideal outfit.

Oxfam bridal boutique in Eastbourne has seen demand for bargain wedding dresses rocket.

The Terminus Road store has sold £10,000 worth of dresses in the past year and has a month long waiting list for people to view the garments.

People from as far as London, Kent and Surrey are travelling to the seaside town to pick up their dream dress.

With the cost of the average wedding now costing about £16,000, Oxfam sells dresses for £250 compared to the national average of £826.

Store manager Linda Fulbrook said: "It has been absolutely crazy and we just cannot keep up with demand.

"We have more than 30 people on the waiting list at the moment just to view our dresses.

"All sorts of people buy from us.

"Some are young looking to get married on a budget because of the high mortgage costs.

"Others have been married before and did the big wedding the first time around."

The Eastbourne boutique also sells groom outfits, bridesmaid dresses and has a mother of the bride section.

A shoes and accessories section does roaring trade selling end of season items donated by local businesses.

A dress which sells for £250 can provide 100 people with clean water, build two toilets, train two midwives and feed a family for a month.

Mrs Fulbrook said people are more inclined to buy Oxfam's dresses because of these ethical reasons.

She said: "Those who buy our dresses also like to know the money is going to help others."

An Oxfam poll of 590 UK residents found that 15 per cent of couples thought it was important to give their wedding an ethical slant.

Around eight in ten brides were hanging on to their gown after the big day. Three quarters had not worn it since.

Nine out of ten of the dresses are ex-catwalk garments donated by designer boutiques and more are needed.

Barbara Warmsley, the charity's bridal co-ordinator, said: "It's great that so many brides are coming to Oxfam for their dresses, but we are desperate for donations to meet this growing demand."

Jo Wright, 28, of Stones Cross, Eastbourne, bought a £1,000 Hollywood Dreams dress for £500 from Oxfam in Eastbourne for her wedding in November.

She said: "I would recommend going to the shop.

"I bought a designer wedding dress that had only been used on the catwalk."

To donate a wedding dress or make an appointment at the Eastbourne store call 01323 640731.

Have you bought a wedding dress from a charity shop? Post your comments below.