BROAD Street's newest hair salon, which launched this week, is hoping to prove it's a cut above the rest.

Owners Robert Smith and Simon Shaw opened their first Haringtons hairdressing salon in Maidenhead

during the 1980s.

Seventeen years on and still boasting a philosophy that they put the customer first, the partners have returned to the Thames Valley, with the opening of their seventh store in the chain in Reading. The new salon is above the town's Body Shop.

Mr Shaw said the chain had reached the finals of the salon design of the year competition.

He added: "All the stores have the same kind of look and feel the same, in terms of colours and textures used. It creates a relaxed environment that isn't intimidating.

"It is very relaxed and clean."