A HAIRDRESSING family are set to celebrate 30 years in business in Hampshire.

Things looked bleak for Hair Talk on the morning of July 16, 1988.

The Eastleigh store had burned down overnight and owner Barry Saunders was initially under suspicion himself.

But 26 years later the business is going strong and Barry and wife Sharon have been joined by their daughter Claire Molineaux.

They have since relocated to Totton and have been pleasantly surprised by the number of customers who stuck by them.

Barry closed up the shop but was woken up at 4am and arrived at the building on Twyford Road to find it ablaze.

He said: “The police were a little bit suspicious of me but it transpired that there was a fault in the cables.

“There were nine weeks of closure and we were fearful for the girls’ jobs.

“We were devastated and thought that was us finished.

“We were amazed at the amount of people that would travel ten miles to get their hair cut.”

The Totton outlet is covered in balloons, cards and celebratory bottles of champagne highlighting the special milestone.

And while the staff themselves have been enjoying the occasion, the customers felt the benefit as well.

Claire, who was two when the business was formed, said: “It’s quite a relaxed atmosphere and people like it because it’s very family orientated.

“We have been giving the customers cake and tea but we’re not allowed to give them alcohol anymore.”

Sharon, meanwhile, still retains her passion for hairdressing after being in the business for three decades.

Although she wistfully acknowledges that she had hoped to retire by now, she insists there’s nowhere else she’d rather be.

Sharon said: “It was such a shock – I didn’t realise we had been going that long.

“I like coming to work and it’s a great profession to be in.”

And in terms of differing hair styles, Sharon has no preference.

“I like doing it all, really,” she said.”