Sold! The dress that launched a thousand bids

The dress made from 20,000 loom bands was the first of its kind and caused a global sensation in July when it reached bids of £150,000 half way through the sale.

But the highest bidder refused to pay up and the owners Kathryn Burnand and Helen Wright were told by eBay they could do nothing about it.

After the disappointment the kind-hearted friends decided to donate the dress to Macmillan Cancer Support because they have both lost family members to cancer.

Kathryn said she and Helen attended a lavish charity ball last Saturday at Soughton Hall near Mold where tickets cost £45 per head. Kathryn said they both had hoped the dress would raise more money but were relieved that it had gone to a good cause.

More: Mum tells of shock as loom band dress passes £170,000 on eBay

The friends who both live in Prestatyn came up with the idea for the dress whilst watching Helen's daughter Sian make bracelets. Kathryn, aged 51, said it took her 45 hours to make the dress and when it was finished they posted it on eBay.

A few days later the auction went viral when the bids reached £150,000 and the dress became famous appearing in newspapers around the world. But when the auction ended the highest bidder, from Surrey, refused to pay up and the dress also failed to sell when it was re-listed a week later.

Read more: The price is right? Loom band dress drops to £500

Eleri Brady North Wales fundraising manager for Macmillan Cancer Support said she wanted to thank Kathryn and Helen for donating the dress.

"All the money raised from the dress will be used to help local people affected by cancer. The expert nurses offer much-needed advice, information and support to people with cancer."