A SOUTHAMPTON hair salon forced to close through a lack of hairdressers has reopened thanks to the Daily Echo.

Shirley's Isis salon was force to shut its doors because of a "severe shortage" of qualified staff.

Following publication of their plight, they were contacted by hairdressers looking for work and are now building the business back up. In fact, the staff search was so successful they will be one of the few salons open this Christmas Eve.

Co-owner Lynn Spencer said: "We had a lot of interest, with people saying they would like to work for us.

"Business is picking up really well now. We have called all our old clients again and we get lots of people coming in and saying glad you're still here'."

The Hair and Beauty Industry Authority estimates a national shortage of 37,000 hairdressers.