A VILLAGE hair and beauty salon has been named Gazette readers' Hairdresser of the Year for 2019.

Amour Hair and Beauty, in Wood Lane Corner, Eight Ash Green, came out on top following a public vote involving more than a dozen other salons.

Owner Erica Burgess said: "I was so shocked and happy I screamed when I got the phone call telling me we had won.

"It was not just a couple of salons nominated there were 16 involved so I was surprised we won.

"It is nice to know we are well thought of.

"When I told people we were going to enter we had some really amazing feedback from people saying they thought we should win."

The winners of the award were announced the day before Amour celebrated its eighth birthday.

Ms Burgess said: "It was a nice birthday present for us to know we won.

"It has been very difficult over the eight years but we have grown and grown.

"We have to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for us."

Amour has three stylists and a beautician and Ms Burgess also travels around Essex as a colour educator for beauty brand Leyton House.