BARRY Buller is alive and kicking - and he wants everyone to know it.

The Westhoughton hairdresser is getting fed-up of rumours circulating round the town that he has passed away.

And what at first seemed "a bit of a laugh" is now starting to upset his family - after one was handed a sympathy card!

Barry, who has been a gent's hairdresser in the town for 35 years, went into hospital last December for an operation on his spine.

Afterwards he had to have complete rest and closed his shop on Leigh Road for two months.

"It was the first time in 35 years that the shop has had to close," said Barry, aged 53, who has made a full recovery after the operation.

"When I opened up again in February there were all sorts of rumours going round that I had died.

"One chap came in and said it had been all round the pub that I had passed away and then someone else rang friends to ask if it was true.

"At first I laughed it off. My partner was more upset than me and then the rumours started to peter out.

"But in the last fortnight the rumours have started going round again and its not funny now. It's gone beyond a joke." This week his daughter who works in his son's hairdresser's in Bolton was handed a condolence card.

Barry and his partner Enid were so upset and determined to dispel the rumours that they had planned to put an advertisement in the Bolton Evening News announcing that, contrary to rumour, he was alive and well.

"I can't understand where these rumours keep coming from it makes you wonder if it is malicious and someone is doing it on purpose. But I'm not ready to pop my clogs yet."

If someone is making mischief, Barry is at a loss to know who is responsible as he doesn't believe he has upset anyone.

"Unless I've given someone a bad haircut," he joked.

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