A MILLINER who has worked for some of the world's most famous designers has opened a shop in Durham.

Elena Lewis has made hats for some of fashion's biggest names such as Gianni Versace, Dolce and Gabanna and Rifat Ozbek.

But her real ambition was to set up her own business. Now she has opened her latest Hats on Top store in the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre in Durham.

The fashion and design graduate, who trained with designers such as Shirley Hex and Philip Treacy, has stores in Hull, Grimsby, Middlesbrough and Harrogate.

The Durham store, which opened this month, sells hats, accessories, bags, scarves and gloves.

She said: "I am delighted that the business has grown as quickly and as successfully as it has, which is why I decided to open my latest store in Durham, as part of an ongoing expansion plan to develop a chain of accessory stores nationwide."

The store will stock summer and winter hats depending on the season and staff will be able to offer customers free professional advice from staff trained in millinery.

The business even offers a hat dying service so people need not discard an old hat but can have it dyed to match any colour of outfit.