FROM the very latest designer garden wear to what to do with those old unwanted clothes, a Felixstowe fashion show was full of good ideas. Among those taking part in the evening - run to support breast cancer charity Breakthrough - were the Girlie Gardeners Cathy Cauldwell-Todd and Helen Jones, stars of the BBC's Tycoon series.

FROM the very latest designer garden wear to what to do with those old unwanted clothes, a Felixstowe fashion show was full of good ideas.

Among those taking part in the evening - run to support breast cancer charity Breakthrough - were the Girlie Gardeners Cathy Cauldwell-Todd and Helen Jones, stars of the BBC's Tycoon series.

They brought along their alternative gardening gear - designed for those who want to look good while working and relaxing.

Six boutiques, from Ipswich, Woodbridge, Felixstowe and Trimley St Mary put on the fashion show and there were 25 stands offering services from treatments to colour analysis.

These also included a display from Suffolk County Council's environment and waste management unit, promoting recycling clothes - the use of charity shops, while pupils from Holbrook High School showed how old clothes could be “customised” to create an individual look.

Councillor Eddy Alcock said the British public throw away more than a million tonnes of textiles a year and discard two thousand pairs of shoes every week.

He said: “It is important to support the great work that charity shops do, not only raising money for good causes, but also supporting reuse by keeping perfectly good items in circulation, rather than sending them to landfill.”

Around 100 people attended the event at the Hotel Elizabeth Orwell.

Jacqueline Cumiskey, who organised the event, said: “It was a really fantastic evening. Breast cancer is a constant fear for women and I felt it was something that was really worthwhile to support. We took about £160 on the tombola alone and we hope we have raised £1,000.

“It was absolutely amazing to have the Girlie Gardeners here supporting us. I could not believe the effort they went to coming down from Yorkshire.”

Girlie Gardener Mrs Cauldwell-Todd said: “It went brilliantly - it was a lovely event and we really enjoyed ourselves.

I think Jacqueline did a brilliant job - it was a very sophisticated evening.”