SHOPPING queen Mary Portas topped the bill at an Edgware school's charity fashion event this week.

The TV presenter hosted the 13th annual Fantasy Fashion show at North London Collegiate School (NLCS) on Monday.

Gok Wan sidekick Brix Smith-Start was a judge at the event, which raised about £5,000 for a charity set up by a former NLCS pupil in aid of Burmese refugees.

More than 100 senior school pupils at the girls school, in Canons Drive, created colourful outfits based around the theme of Elements.

Starting from scratch, groups made costumes using a range of materials including balloons, coke cans and feathers.

As the acts strutted down the catwalk presenters explained the concepts behind the designs, including elements of nature, of the periodic table and even the element of surprise.

One girl modelled a dress made of jigsaw puzzle pieces, while another wrapped herself in plastic piping with water rippling through.

Fashionable items including a Mulberry Bag and a Smythson Notebook were auctioned off to members of the audience.

Proceeds went to the Karenni Student Development Programme (KSDP), which provides education and aid to Karenni refugees living on the Thai border. The charity was set up by former pupil Stephanie Lee while she was on her gap year.

In three years, Stephanie, who organised the first Fantasy Fashion event in 1997, raised more than £30,000. She died in a motorcycle accident in Thailand in 2001, but her family have continued her fundraising efforts.

Her mother, Beryl Lee, was a guest at the show. She said funding from last years event had helped realise her daughters dream of supporting education in Burma.

"KSDP would like to thank the girls for organising tonight's event," she said. "I know just how much hard work goes into it".

Judges congratulated all the entrants for a phenomenal job, saying that all the acts 'had the X-Factor tonight'.

Organisers, Tamara Stewart and Rugiile Girdzijauskaite, both in Year 13 at the school, said it had been a fabulous event.

"Everyone worked so hard on their costumes and came up with really good ideas," they said.

"We are so proud to have raised so much money for a cause so close to teh school's heart".

Rowan Kitt, the teacher in charge, commended another very successful fundraising event for KSDP.

"Mary Portas ran the show with aplomb," he said. "The pupils created a fine array of wonderful costumes".