A SPECIALIST Asian food shop is set to be opened in Leigh after celebrity hairdresser Lee Stafford sold his salon.

Mr Stafford closed the salon in London Road, where his chain began, in 2010, and did consider re-opening it as a training school.

Echo:

However, the idea never came to fruition and now the building will be turned into a specialist Asian food shop.

New owner Kobir Hussain, who owns other food stores including Foods of Asia in London Road, Westcliff, said: “This is what we feel Leigh needs.

“Lots of people are into cooking these days and we’ll be able to provide people with specialist and exotic fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices.

“People will be able to source items from the Asian continent, including China, Korea, Thailand, India and the Philippines.”

It is expected work to remodel the building will take a couple of months to complete.

Mr Stafford now concentrates on his product range, and said he was sad to lose his connection with the property.

After a brief spell in the Kings Road, Chelsea, and some time in the US, Lee returned to the UK and his home town of Leigh.

He described himself as “cutting his teeth” at the London Road salon, and also cut his first head of hair there.

Mr Stafford said: “All good things come to an end. It was a long time coming, but we got there in the end.”

Estate agent Gerard Biagioni, from Dedman Gray Property Consultants, said: “Lee is happy to see a local businessman has the confidence to develop the property and take good care of it.”

The building at the corner of Elmsleigh Drive went on the market for £420,000.

“It is not known how much it sold for."