Bad news for Bolly lovers

Supplies of the Ab Fab stars' champagne of choice are dangerously low - and could soon start disappearing altogether from off-licence and supermarket shelves.

The threatened Bollinger drought follows a disastrous grape harvest last year when spring frosts and June hail storms badly damaged vines.

The poor harvest also comes at a time when demand for champagne has never been higher in Britain. In a move to make Patsy and Edina weep, champagne houses are keeping back stocks so that supplies are available next year and in 2005.

Britain is the world's biggest export market for champagne, with shipments in the first nine months of this year up by 13 per cent to 21.2 million bottles.