Jolie's Oscar gown is stolen

The designer dresses due to be worn at the Oscars by Hollywood star Angelina Jolie and heiress Paris Hilton have been stolen in London.

The glamorous pair now face the awkward prospect of having nothing to wear at the ceremony on Sunday after the frocks were taken from the car of British designer Scott Henshall.

Henshall is due to fly out to Los Angeles to dress Jolie and Hilton tonight.

"I would offer a cash reward to anyone who returned them in time," he said. "I have already been searching litter bins in the area in case the dresses were dumped."

The designer left the dresses in his BMW while shopping in Knightsbridge with friend Lady Victoria Hervey. Thieves slashed the car's soft-top roof to steal the Oscar gowns, along with other dresses, accessories and jewellery.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said today: "Police are investigating the theft of nine dresses worth £30,000 and other clothing and accessories from a car parked in Lowndes Square."

Henshall said: "There were 20 outfits in the collection and now the nine most glamorous have gone. There is no way I can remake Angelina's or any of the other dresses in time."

Jolie's outfit was a body-hugging red corset dress decorated with cherubs and worth £3,000. Party-girl Paris Hilton, 21 was planning to wear a lowcut sequinned minidress in a harlequin design, priced at £2,500. A £3,000 black chiffon flapper dress destined for Tamara Beckwith, who is due to conduct TV interviews at the ceremony, was also stolen.