SALON owners and staff in East Yorkshire are celebrating a hair-raising achievement after a string of successes in a national health and safety competition.

Spirit, in Pocklington, is among the success stories to emerge as winners at this year’s National UK Health and Safety Awards run by Habia, the standards-setting body for hair, beauty, nails and spa treatments.

The victors were invited to the East Riding College Salon in Beverley to be congratulated by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s leader, Coun Stephen Parnaby, and Coun Joe Evison, the authority’s portfolio holder for cultural services, housing and public protection.

“Becoming UK safety champions is a superb achievement for the six salons from our area,” said Coun Evison.

“Incorporating excellent standards of health and safety within salon practice is clearly good for business reputation and this does not have to be time-consuming or expensive.

“I would encourage all salons in the area to engage in dialogue with Habia and council inspectors to this end.”

East Riding College was the first of its kind in the UK to gain the local Habia award.

It is now working with the council to encourage more salons to attain the standard.

Its head of hair and beauty, Natalee Eddom, said: “The award provides public recognition and confidence in standards practised and maintained within the salon to ensure employee and customer safety.”