Harvey Nichols' spring summer fashion show was the hottest ticket in town for the city's style queens who shunned the big Manchester United Champions League game for the fash bash.

Even a host of WAGs couldn't resist the lure of spotting the new season trends at the lavish event.

Glamorous Leanne Brown – wife of Manchester United defender Wes – was able to make a last minute change of plan to attend the fashion show, after her hubby's foot injury ruled him out of the AC Milan game.

Leanne, looking fabulous in an emerald green blouse, admitted many of her friends were torn between the big game and the catwalk.

She said: “A lot of my friends wouldn't come to the fashion show – they said, 'no, I want to see David Beckham instead!'

“But when I knew Wes definitely wouldn't be playing I thought I would come and see the new season trends tonight, it's always such a great show.”

Meanwhile the partner of England and Aston Villa footballer Emile Heskey, glam Chantelle Tagoe, was doing a little style swotting at the bash - ahead of hosting her own WAG fashion gala planned tonight at Room Restaurant in the city.

The catwalk extravaganza was held at the Urbis building last night – which, ironically enough, has only just closed as an arts space to be transformed into the new National Football Museum.

Store bosses paid a special tribute to designer Alexander McQueen after his sudden death last month - with a special selection of his spring summer collection on display.

Coronation Street beauties Michelle Keegan, Brooke Vincent and Sacha Parkinson were turning heads in their designer cocktail dresses – and they told The Diary they weren't too sad to be missing the big match.

Michelle, wearing nautical stripes, laughed: “It's definitely fashion over football for me, although I do like Manchester United to win.”

And ubiquitous music star Peter Hook got a pleasant surprise during the catwalk show – when one of the new season trends was billed as inspired by the “swagger” of his infamous 90s nightclub, The Hacienda. Some things will never go out of fashion!