TWO sisters who set up a hairdressing salon in their childhood home are finally calling it a day. Joan Nash and Carol Yates, who own Joan and Carol's on Stitch-Mi-Lane, Harwood, have decided to retire and sell their shop over 35 years after it was transformed from a two-up-two-down terraced cottage into a salon. The pair became hairdressers after leaving school and set up their own business when they were just teenagers, will carry out their last shampoo and set at the end of this month.

The sisters - maiden name Horrocks - even lived above the shop themselves at one point and say they will sorry to see the place go.

Oldest sister Joan, 55, told the BEN: "I'm not upset to be finishing work, it will be nice to retire, but it will be very sad to shut the door on this place because it has got so many memories for us. The property has been in the family for generations - it was my grandfather's, mother's and then ours. I even lived above the shop when I first got married, so these walls could tell a few tales."

Carol, aged 51, added: "The time came really when we had to make a decision about what to do. We would either have to invest a lot of money in doing the shop up, or sell it, so we decided to go for retirement."

Despite working together for over 30 years the sisters claim they have never fallen out. Joan has stayed in Harwood with husband Malcolm and Carol lives with her husband John in Affetside. Both have grandchildren.

"We argued at home when we were younger, but now we work together we don't socialise that much outside work," said Joan. "But we've had enough now and it will be nice to be able to have some time for ourselves and our families. Hairdressing is the family trade though. Our daughters have gone on to be hairdressers too."

The shop, which now only opens three days a week, will be missed by its regular customers - some have been coming since the business first started.

"We have lots of regulars," said Carol. "Some of our clients have been coming since we first started and they love coming for a chat - and they all know each other."

Joan and Carol are planning a special afternoon for customers on March 17 where they can go along for a glass of sherry to say goodbye. For more information contact the salon on 522861.

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