She will launch online with Dorothy Perkins this week and clothes will be in its shops and Tesco stores by January.

Having worried that her business would not survive the recession, she now says: 'I'm starting to see light at the end of the tunnel.

'These are quite big deals for me and I am really excited.'

This raises the question, given that 80% of the nation's women are wearing the wrong size bra, is the supermarket the right place to buy a bra? If you can buy the same bra at a supermarket or at a Lingerie Store for the same price, then surely the personal service offered by a Lingerie Store with experienced fitters who will give you proper advise as to suitable size and styles, should make the Lingerie Store to be the first port of call for any woman wanting to buy a properly fitting bra.