CONGRATULATIONS are in order for the winner of the Chorley Citizen's 1999 Hairdresser of the Year competition.

In February, we asked our readers to nominate who they thought were the best hairdressers in Chorley.

And, as a result, we were absolutely inundated with hundreds of recommendations from people all over the town!

The seven hairdressers who came out on top were Head office on Railway Street, Highlights on Cowling Brow, Cameo on Chapel Street, Studio 89 on Bolton Street, Cut n Curl on Gillibrand Walks, Northcote's Hair on Market Street and Clare Sanderson mobile hairdresser.

And, after careful consideration, our panel of judges finally agreed that Head Office Hairdressers were simply the best, with Highlights winning our runner-up prize!

The staff at Head Office were presented with the Citizen Choice Award last Friday afternoon together with a superb bouquet of flowers - kindly donated by Marshall's Florists, Pall Mall.

Runners up Highlights also had a certificate presented to them as well as a bouquet of flowers.

Owner of Head Office, Marlene Evans, who has had the shop on Cowling Brow for more than seven years, was over the moon to have won the Citizen's Hairdresser of the Year.

She beamed: "All of us here are absolutely thrilled to get this award.

"It's brilliant to be chosen as the best hairdressers in Chorley. Thank you to all the people who nominated us."

The Head Office was launched seven years ago by co-owners Marlene Evans and Leslie Corner who met at Chorley's Runshaw College while they were doing a level 3 NVQ course in hairdressing.

The salon now employs two members of staff, Viki Howes who is a junior stylist and who is now working towards level 3, and Joanne Tyrer, the junior member, who is working towards level 2.

Models are required for training sessions on Tuesday evenings. Telephone 01257 232141 for any inquiries regarding appointments, models, or training.

The Citizen would also like to thank all our readers who took part in the competition.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.