In just over a fortnight she's sold 55 of her 'Sparkly Rainbow' dresses which featured on the show starring retail guru Mary Portas.

Mary's e-mail and myspace page has been inundated with pleas from girls and young women who saw the July 7 programme, desperate to get their hands on her designs.

The 18-year-old from Seacroft, Leeds, has just finished her National Diploma in fashion, clothing and textiles at the Leeds College of Art and Design.

Now she has been asked by BBC3 to take part in a show about young entrepreneurs and went down to London last week for some filming.

Mary said: "It really shook me when I checked my computer after the show – there were about 80 e-mails and 15 messages.

"It was a bit weird, some of the girls said they were going to get their hair cut like mine. You've got all these really cool girls being so nice and saying 'please, I need that dress'."

Mary was put forward by her tutor Mike Jackson who was contacted by the BBC. She had to get through two rounds of interviews competing against 30 other young designers.

Then it was a four-day race against time as she put together a 12-piece collection for the programme which shows Mary Portas going into a struggling clothes shop and turning it around.

The troubleshooter wanted to tempt students into York boutique Selkie by featuring funky, up-and-coming designers.

Brother-in-law Mike Wells has taken over running the business as orders for the £80 dress have gone through the roof.

Mary, who began her fashion career making bags for her schoolfriends at Corpus Christi, added: "I'm working on my autumn/winter collection which could include little shorts, a leopard print coat and a tinselly dress.

"I did use a seamstress in Bramley but now I'm doing the designs and buying the material and they're being made in a factory in Leeds.

"I'm going back to college in three weeks to do an art foundation course but eventually I'd really like to be a famous designer with my own shop in London."

Heating engineer dad Fred, 58, brothers Andrew, 30, David, 28, and sisters Angela, 25, and Claire Wells, 33, are all behind her.

Mum Christine, 54, said: "She was really creative right from being little."

As well as on-line Mary's clothes are on sale at Selkie and Blue Rinse in Leeds.

Visit her website by clicking here or e-mail info@marybenson.co.uk or call Mike on 08712 372048.