THE owners of a hairdressers in Waterfoot are hoping to celebrate their 25th year in business by winning a national training competition.

Christine and Chris Moffatt, who own Headmasters hair, beauty and nail salon, in Bacup Road, Waterfoot,have reached the finals of the National Training Awards.

This week they were informed they had beaten competition from others in their industry to become the only hairdressers in the grand final, the training board's equivalent of the Oscars.

This is the second consecutive year they have reached this stage and Christine said she hopes they will now have what it takes to go all the way.

All entries in the UK were assessed by a panel of judges and those chosen went before a judging panel based in their region before going to the finals.

Out of the 1,200 entries, only 200 got through to the finals and will attend an awards ceremony in Manchester Town Hall on October 17.

Christine said: "When you think that we have been up against councils, big solicitors and insurance firms, football clubs and hospitals, we have done really well.

"I am trying to promote hairdressing and tell people that it is a good career to join.

"When we were told that we had got through this week we were also sent a box of champagne and a congratulations card."

The couple have received plenty of help over the years from their daughter Rebecca, 22, who has been there for five years, and assistant Nicky Chute, who has been employed at Headmasters for 18 years.