The Victoria and Albert museum will open through the night for the first time in its history, because of demand for its sell-out Alexander McQueen exhibition.

McQueen - one of the country's most renowned fashion designers - was born in Lewisham on March 17, 1969, the son of a London cab driver.

After a battle with depression, he killed himself at the age of 40 - the day before his mother's funeral.

The V&A exhibition 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' celebrates some of McQueen's greatest works - and will open through the night for the final two weekends of its run.

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Picture: Press Association

More than 345,000 people - including Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian West and Maria Sharapova - have visited the show since it opened on March 14.

V&A director Martin Roth said: "We knew that Savage Beauty would be very popular, but the response has been even greater than we imagined.

"It is an extraordinary exhibition and I urge anyone who has not yet visited, wherever they are in the world, to make a trip to the V&A to experience this very special show.

"It is not going on tour to other venues so our aim is to provide as many people as possible with the opportunity to see it by opening through the night for the last two weekends.

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Picture: Press Association

 

"This will be the first time we have opened the V&A around the clock and we certainly think it is an event worth getting out of bed for."

The exhibition, which fills 10 rooms in the museum, is a celebration of the work of the man who left school at 16 but rose through the fashion industry to become one of the world's leading designers.

The fashion house that bears his name remains hugely influential and the Duchess of Cambridge's intricately decorated wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen.

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