London, May 11: Fat-busting knickers from John Lewis disappeared in half an hour after the British store's online shop was plagued by enthusiastic customers.

And the in-store stocks of the new anti-cellulite ''wonder pants'' were further taken home by shoppers within hours of going on sale.

The Scala Bio-Fir underwear allegedly expels cellulite by using bio-crystals to heat the skin on contact, which in effect melts fat cells and smoothes the dimpled skin.

Sales of the 25-pound went sky rocketing after independent tests revealed that 82 per cent of women, who had tried the product for six hours every day, could see a "significant" reduction in cellulite over 30 days.

The store has now come up with a waiting list after thousands placed several pre-orders for the pants, claimed to be a firm favourite of celebrities such as Sienna Miller.

"Although we have always had confidence in this product, the unprecedented customer response has taken us a little bit by surprise. However more stock will be through in time," the Mirror quoted the chain''s lingerie buyer Helen Spencer as saying. (ANI)