TALENTED hairdressing students at St Helens College came away with a major haul of silverware at the Association of Hairdressing Teachers (AHT) UK Student Championships, held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

The team took the title of UK College of the Year for a record fourth time, beating colleges from all over the country in a number of different categories.

The college last won the overall award in 1994 but a number of category first places - First Year Day Style, Second Year Freestyle, Gents Avant Garde, Cut 'n' Blow and Super Junior - ensured their victory.

AND ST HELENS-based hair salon, Avanti Hair Team were also in celebratory mood after winning four awards in the same event.

The salon, which is in Westfield Street, has now won a total of 14 awards this season's competitions and their styles are to be featured in this month's editions of Hair Now and Hair Flair magazines.

Owner, John Beirne said: "This is a very exciting time for the salon and has meant an increase in trade and a lot of hard work for our stylists. To celebrate, the entire salon went to Dublin over Easter to recharge our batteries!"

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