EAST Durham College’s hair and beauty department are preparing for a national contest after coming out on top at the Association of Hairdressers and Therapists regional competition.

Students travelled to Gateshead’s Federation Brewery for the event, which saw them come home with 12 medals in total, including the coveted Best College award - meaning the team have now won the top honour four times in the last five years.

The event saw EDC students compete against 14 other colleges from across the region.

The college picked up three first place gold medals, which went to students Reeanna Mellor in the 14-16 evening style with ornamentation, Courtney Williams in the men’s commercial category and Michael Coulson in the gender transformation category.

Olivia Hick, Lauren Johnson, Lauren Dovaston & Amy Harpin, Nicole Bartle and Hannah Spencer all won second place medals with Jodie Fergus, Karen Scarr and Emily McClaren collecting third place bronze medals.

The team are now preparing for the National AHT 2015 finals at Blackpool’s famous Winter Gardens on March 15 and 16.

East Durham College hairdressing lecturer Angela Johnston said: “It was another great performance by the team at the AHT event in Gateshead this year, that’s three years on the trot we have won Best College.

“Now we are getting the team prepared for the nationals in Blackpool, it’s a huge event, and we will be up against some brilliant colleges from all across Britain."

For more information on courses in hair and beauty visit www.eastdurham.ac.uk or contact 0191 518 8222.