A POPULAR hairdressers has unexpectedly ceased trading in Darlington.

The shutters are down at the town’s branch of Toni and Guy, on Posthouse Wynd.

Customers reported receiving texts from the salon informing them that the hairdressers had ceased trading in Darlington as of Tuesday.

The text said: “Dear client, Toni and Guy Darlington has now closed.

“A big thank you from us for your custom.

“Your nearest salons are Middlesbrough or Durham who'd be delighted to offer you 25% off your first visit.

“Thanks once again.”

One disappointed customer said: “I’m gutted, Mike there has done my hair for 11 years.

“I’ve no idea where I’m going to get my hair done now.”

A spokeswoman for Toni and Guy confirmed that the branch, which operated on a franchise basis, had closed.

She said: “We came to a mutual understanding with the owner that we would close the door.

“Our first duty of care is to our staff and clients – our staff will be reassigned if they want to be and our clients are being redirected to Middlesbrough or Durham.

“We have 250 salons and things like this can happen but we do not want our staff or clients to suffer as a result.”