A HAIRDRESSER who transformed her salon to enable customers to sit in comfortable surroundings has scooped a national award.

Emma Simmons said she was stunned when it was announced at the English Hair and Beauty Awards ceremony in Manchester that Salon 54, in Thirsk had overcome competition from leading hairdressing chains to win the Salon Design of the Year title.

Customers nominated the salon for the award following the introduction of a colour bar, where clients can sit in comfortable seats and chat while waiting for hair dye to set.

Mrs Simmons, who has run the salon for 15 years, said within days of receiving the accolade there had been a huge upturn in trade and she was working long hours in an attempt not to turn customers away.

She said: "I thought it was just nice to be at the ceremony, but when they called out our name it was a bit like going for an Oscar as I didn't know what to say apart from thanking everybody.

"It just shows it is not all about putting millions into a swanky building in a city centre - it was judged on the comfort of clients.

"I have already noticed a lot of new clients, there were six yesterday and four the day before, which is a massive upturn in a small town like Thirsk."