A Sedgefield hair and beauty salon which featured in a documentary series has reached the final of a national competition.

Staff at Evolution, in Sedgefield village, are heading for London for the final of the British Hairdresser of the Year contest after successfully competing in the North-East heat.

An ITV documentary followed the fortunes of staff at the salon, which is owned by Darren Thacker and Sarah-Jane Green, as it entered the championships.

They had to travel to London to create styles for four models, then photograph them. Their entry was considered good enough for a place in the final, which will take place in London on November 24. The winners will be announced at Grosvenor House.

Senior stylist Ross Laing said: "We're over the moon because this is like the Oscars of hairdressing. We'll be up against people like Vidal Sassoon and Toni and Guy, all the big hairdressing companies.

"We've only been here for a year-and-a-half and there are companies which have been trying for years to get this far, so even to be nominated for the final is fantastic."