Churchill 'never paid for his suits'

The ledgers of tailor Henry Poole & Co, the founding business of Savile Row, are being made public.

Dating back to 1846 they detail the garments made for notable figures of the day including Edward VII, Charles Dickens and Madame Tussaud.

Fashion historian James Sherwood told the Today programme how the fashion habits of every king, emperor and Victorian celebrity are contained in the books.

The ledgers follow the entire political career of Sir Winston Churchill, until the tailor lost his patience with the great war leader because he didn’t pay his bills, he said.