IT'S the beauty product which women have dreamed about for years - and this weekend thousands across the North-East are expected to rush out to buy it.

Last night, the region's pharmacies were stocking up on two anti-cellulite creams which independent testers in France have proved really do work.

L'Oral PerfectSlim and Elancyl Chrono-Actif were found to reduce the circumference of the thigh by two centimetres in two weeks when tested by France's equivalent of the Consumers' Association.

Pharmacies in France have been deluged with requests for the ointments since the results of the survey were released.

And yesterday, after the story was picked up by the media in Britain, stores in the North-East revealed there had been an increase in sales of the L'Oral product, which is sold in Boots, Superdrug and other pharmacies. Boots in the MetroCentre, Gateshead, quickly ran out of supplies of PerfectSlim, priced £10.59, as it only had six bottles on the shelves.

A store spokeswoman said: "Obviously if we had had more there we would have sold them, but unfortunately we didn't. A couple of staff have already ordered in more because of the number of requests.

"The fact that we sold out so quickly is an indication of the interest in the product."

The French survey involved 220 women and ten creams.

Each of the creams was tested on 20 women, who rubbed the cream onto one thigh.

Women in Britain spend £30m a year on slimming creams while their French counterparts spend £50m.

The Elancyl cream, which costs £19.95, is available from larger Boots stores and selected pharmacies and can be ordered by calling (01202) 780558.