Hairdresser celebrates 40 years in the same salon

Julie Wood (left) has owned the business with Sharon Matthews for 24 years

A hairdresser in a Kent town is celebrating 40 years at the same salon.

Julie Wood, who started at Lee's Barbers in Dartford when it opened in 1985, is hosting a week-long celebration to mark the salon's milestone, as well as her own.

Ms Wood spent two years away from the business to get married and have a child, but when she returned, her and her colleague Sharon Matthews bought the business from the retiring owners.

The hairdresser told BBC Radio Kent: "We have gone all out because not a lot of businesses last for 40 years in Dartford."

Ms Wood joined the business at 19 years old when it just did men's haircuts, but after taking over she expanded by creating an attached women's salon.

As she could not remember the exact date of the opening, Ms Wood wanted to do a week-long celebration, which included a visit from the mayor.

"We have a tombola in there for all our customers, a lot of them have won prizes and they've all got sweets, and we've got balloons," she explained.

Ms Wood added: "Our customers are really good, they do keep coming back, thank goodness."