AN ambitious, award-winning young stylist is turning heads at a Farnworth hair salon.

Paul Middlehurst, received the Apprentice of the Year award for his hairdressing course at Bolton Community College. And he is adamant that his success story will not stop there.

Paul said: "It's certainly my long-term aim to have a salon of my own, probably in Manchester to start with."

Paul, who works at Bobbles hair salon on Market Street, Farnworth, left school with no aspiration to become a hairdresser. said: "I always liked being creative, but found it difficult to channel my energies. I walked in here two years ago and simply asked if they had any places."

He was taken on, and combined his work with an apprenticeship at the college.

Pamela Rigby, the owner of Bobbles, said: "I started my career in exactly the same way, and there can be no substitute for good vocational training.

"Apprenticeships are certainly a way forward for many young people who aim to have their own business. "