HAIR studio owners have had to trim back an ornate wooden feature at the front of their business after a bus mounted the pavement outside and clipped the building.

An architectural feature which forms part of the strut over the entrance to the Edward Charles salon in Walmgate, York, was damaged by the impact and most of it has had to be removed for safety.

Evening Press photographer Frank Dwyer captured this picture as he was walking along Walmgate at 11.30am yesterday when First's Number 8 Grimston Bar Park & Ride bus turned the corner from Merchantgate and then went up the kerb.

Charles and Karen Armitage, of Edward Charles Hair Design, believe the road is too narrow for buses.

"If there are lorries parked on the road it is very tight," said Karen.

"There was a lorry parked opposite which was perfectly fine - right up to the kerb edge with the side mirror pulled in. I think the bus driver just misjudged it."

Charles said the ornate wooden feature on the front of their business was damaged.

"We had to take it down in case it landed on anyone," he said.

However, First was quick to respond to the incident when it was reported, with a representative inspecting the damage at the salon.

"First has had a look at it and we have to get a quote for the work," said Charles. "The man said he would get back to us. He was very good. He couldn't have been quicker or more polite."

Updated: 10:13 Thursday, March 30, 2006