Customers have flooded back to get their much-needed haircuts after months in lockdown.

Nervously, hairdressing salons have spent weeks preparing for changes to how they work in an attempt to welcome their clients back safely.

It has meant longer days and more cleaning but hairdressers were delighted to be able to get back to work from Saturday, albeit in a different environment.

Excited to be back at work and have a normal routine is salon manager at Danielle Alexa, Sophia Gartland, said: "It's brilliant to be back.

"Everyone has worked so hard to make our salon as safe as possible.

"It's great to welcome everyone back and everyone seems to be happy and are loving coming back.

"Our customers have been desperate to get back and it's a great feeling to know they have missed us and trust us enough to come back.

"So far we've not had any covid cuts or colour disasters but there is still time."

Now working seven days a week, the manager of Tony Marks salon, Andrea Challenger said:" We're delighted to be back open again.

"We were a little apprehensive at first about all the changes and how we would work with all the changes but we have all gone above and beyond to help our staff and our customers feel safe.

"We are so grateful for all the support we have had it is just so nice to be back at work and have everyone back.

"We have had some customers who have been shielding and have not seen anyone for the whole of lockdown to for them they're loving being able to talk to people and know they're safe, which is the most important part.

The team at the salon have had to make a lot of changes including the hours they work some of the stylists are now working on an evening and on Sundays.

The manager continued: "We thought we would have plenty of notice from the government about reopening but it all happened very quickly and it was a challenge to get everything in place and make it safe.

"It was the little things you had to remember such as making a rota now for staff. The bigger changes we easier such as the screens and getting other protection from our suppliers.

"We don't want people to be worried when they come in, we're doing everything we can,"

It was not just hairdressers that opened but pubs welcomed back their customers, Mike Rollo landlord of The Royal George Inn said: "It has been better than we thought, It's been good to be back working and getting the craic."

"It has been tricky making everything safe but we're a family pub and we have tried to avoid tape everywhere and just guide people."