A SELFLESS mum is helping less fortunate youngsters get their dream prom dress after launching a loaning scheme.

Claire Knight, 43, of The Wellingtons, Southminster, came up with the “gift it forward” idea after posting her niece and nephew’s old prom outfits on Facebook.

She was inundated with people asking to use the items and people come forward offering dresses, hair styling, make up and nail painting.

She said: “My sister has her daughter’s prom dress and son’s prom suit and said she wanted to give them away.

"She doesn’t do Facebook so I said I would advertise it and the response was just massive.

“I then put up another post asking if anybody had got items they would like to gift to get in touch.”

Claire, who has now collected six dresses and four suits, will run a system where people can collect a dress or suit, wear it for prom and then return it.

“I was lucky enough and my sister lucky enough [to have dresses] but so many girls were not,” she said.

“One lady said there was a boy at her son’s prom who was taking photographs. He should have been at the prom but his mum couldn’t afford to send him.

“Here there is no money involved, all items are gifted and there is nothing to pay.

“All the girls want dream dresses and the boys want to look nice. It is nice to help.”

Claire will now set up a dedicated Facebook page to arrange the donations.

“It has been phenomenal,” she said.

“This week I have picked up five dresses and four suits. It has been amazing, I really didn’t expect it.”

To donate a dress or find out more, e-mail mrscknight@hotmail.co.uk.