IT has polarised opinion up and down the nation and now Herefordshire shoppers can make up their own minds about what colour "the dress" really is.

Clothing store, Roman, stocks the garment that sparked fierce debate over whether it is blue and black, or white and gold, on websites across the world this week.

But the definitive answer has now been revealed with #thedress on display in the front window of the store's Hereford branch on Gomond Street.

Leah Hulston, store supervisor, said: "We have had one brought down from Abergavenny for the window display and we have had plenty of people walk past arguing.

"We have had two ladies this morning arguing about which colour they could see and quite a lot of people have been in to ask about it.

"I just can't see it as anything other than black and blue and find it really bizarre but it is all good for the store."

A picture of the dress was initially posted on the social networking website, Tumblr, by 21-year-old Caitlin McNeil.

She asked what colour it was after a debate among her friends.

But it left many others perplexed with some even claiming they could see it changing colour before their eyes.

Sadly, Hereford shoppers hoping to pick up #thedress for themselves are not in luck as the item is totally out of stock, although some sizes are available online.

Ms Hulston added that Roman is considering releasing a special one-off gold and white dress for Comic Relief.