A GOLFING hairdresser survived the cut to finish ahead of the rest in a tournament at the famous St Andrew's course in Scotland.

Alan Dufton, 57, returned to Durham the proud winner of a silver claret jug, a replica of the British Open trophy.

He finished ahead of his 321 rivals, fellow golfers and Rotarians from Britain and Ireland, after rounds over St Andrew's Eden and Old courses.

It earned the Brancepeth Golf Club member a place in an eight-strong England team, which gave him a further three rounds on the Old Course, against Scottish, Welsh and Irish opponents.

Mr Dufton, who has run Alan's of Gilesgate, traditional hairdresser's in Sunderland Road, Durham, for 35 years, went to St Andrew's, in a party of ten Durham and Chester-le-Street Rotary Club members.

"We go up there for this tournament every year for the fellowship and a couple of rounds on the course, without any great hope of winning," he said.

"I suppose I just found my form and everything came off. It was a real bonus then to be picked to play for your country."