A HAIRDRESSER from Darlington has reached the finals of the North-Eastern Hairdresser of the Year competition.

Mark Bailey, of Toni & Guy, will compete against six other people from the region in the finals, at the Grosvenor House Hotel, in London's Park Lane. The North-East competition is part of the National British Hairdressing Awards.

Mark has entered the competition with a collection of four women's cuts. A spokesman for Toni & Guy said: "These looks illustrate our working philosophy that every collection should include a mixture of lengths and shapes to suit clients' needs."

Mark has worked for Toni & Guy for three years, and is the franchise owner of the Darlington branch. As well as meeting customers, Mark teaches his staff advanced hairdressing skills and devises new hairstyling ideas as the salon's artistic director