A 21-YEAR-OLD has opened a beauty and tanning salon in Shildon with the help of the Prince's Trust and her uncle.

When Charlene Dunn left college with qualifications in a range of beauty therapist subjects, she intended to apply for a job, until her uncle offered her the chance to set up her own salon in premises he owned.

Charlene approached the Prince's Trust for business start-up assistance and was awarded a loan of £2,500 and a grant of £300, which enabled her to buy equipment for her salon, called Tranquil.

Charlene said: "Thanks to my uncle's skills as a builder and electrician the work has been done at a fraction of the cost, but has taken a long time because of his other commitments.

"Now, at last, I am open for business and I am very excited at the prospect of being my own boss.