A wedding photographer has pledged to honour his bookings despite going bankrupt.

The sudden closure of David Prothero's Oh Wow Photography, in Rectory Row, Keighley, led to a number of clients and freelance photographers contacting the Keighley News last week, worried he had shut up shop and left them in the lurch.

The KN can now reveal that Mr Prothero, of Littlethorpe, near Ripon, filed for bankruptcy at Bradford Court on May 19.

In a statement this week he said: "Unfortunately, I have had to close my portrait studio and one-hour photo lab in Keighley. This is due to a general downturn in business caused by the increase in use of digital cameras by the general public.

"I appreciate that this has inconvenienced many of my loyal clients of the past 12 years. However, we are hopeful that the studio will be taken over by another photographer in the very near future and business will resume. My existing clients will be contacted to this effect."

He called last week's events an unfortunate misunderstanding.

He said: "I have never, nor would I ever, let down any wedding clients.

"When I relocated to Ripon a month ago I wrote to every bride-to-be informing them that the Keighley studio was closing but that it in no way affected any of their weddings or my services to them. They were also advised of my new telephone number.

"Unfortunately, a couple of people tried to get hold of me on that number last week. As I was unavoidably away from Tuesday to Friday they were unable to reach me and understandably panicked as their weddings were imminent.

"There was never the slightest chance that I would not have covered their weddings as agreed.

"I have again written to all the brides-to-be re-assuring them of my integrity and commitment to providing them with first class service as always."

A spokesman for the Leeds Insolvency Service, Mr Prothero's official receiver, said they could not disclose details of his bankruptcy because he was a sole trader and therefore protected under the Data Protection Act.

Those hoping to recover their deposits or property from Mr Prothero should contact the service at 3rd Floor, 1 City Walk, Leeds, LS11 9DA or call 0113 2006000.

For more details about bankruptcy visit www.insolvency.gov.uk