A MOBILE barber has set up shop in the back of a decommissioned prison van and is offering his services across the North-East.

Stewart Vine set up his business, Clipperdy Doo-Dah, for people who live in remote areas or those who are too busy to visit a barber.

Mr Vine, who has more than 25 years’ experience in the trade, now regularly parks up in Newton Park Services, County Durham, and can also be seen at markets in Catterick, North Yorkshire and Durham City.

The 50-year-old, from Newcastle, said: “I’m the first mobile barber in the North-East as far as I know, the next closest is in Scotland.

“I was thinking about setting up for a while and noticed quite a lot of prison vans on the roads when I was a delivery driver and just thought they would be perfect.

“The van attracts a lot of attention and gets a lot of smiles when people see it and things are going well.”

Mr Vine said he does not need a street traders’ licence because he provides a service rather than selling a product.

The van, which once held four prisoners, now has two barbers’ chairs, a waiting area and a television, was acquired from a firm in Dorset.

He said: “It took about four or five weeks to strip it out and now £8,000 to £10,000 later here I am.”

Fleets of prison vehicles were decommissioned in January after new contracts were awarded to private firms GEOAmey and Serco to provide security services across the UK.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it is concerned about the practice of selling former prison vehicles which could be then be used in an escape.

In a memo sent to all UK prisons, the MoJ said: “While the sale of such vehicles is lawful, it does give cause for concern.

“Criminal appropriation of such vehicles could pose a threat to prison security.”

Prior to the prison transportation service being privatised, decommissioned security vehicles were destroyed.