Designer's debut at London Fashion Week

A young designer from Lincoln is looking to take the catwalks by storm after being invited to exhibit at London Fashion Week.

Sophia Bentley Tonge, from Albert Crescent in the city's West End, already wowed tutors at Nottingham Trent University with her nightmare inspired collection, Falling Awake.

But now the 25-year-old former Yarborough School pupil will be out to impress the international fashionistas with her theatrical brand of haute couture.

"The clothes I'm taking to London were my graduation collection - with a few added accessories," said Miss Bentley Tonge. "It was inspired by my darker side and dreams.

"The idea is centred around nightmares and all the horrible things that could happen in the dark – so I've got dark teddy bears and dolls heads peeping out the jackets.

"Hopefully it'll help me get noticed."

Karen Harrigan, a senior fashion design lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, said she was very pleased for her former student.

"Sophia was always very determined to do well, and she showed promise right from the first year," said Ms Harrigan.

"She's highly creative and made quite a statement with her final collection - it's theatrical but well done.

"It's unusual to have someone leave university and straight away be invited to London Fashion Week.

"But I always knew she'd do well.

"She's definitely a talent to look out for in the future."