BARBER Mike Harford is ready to be a headline act after taking over part of the old Gazette & Herald building in Devizes Market Place as his new shop.

Mr Harford, 36, is keeping the heritage of the former newspaper office by using pages from the Gazette as wallpaper.

He said: "I am delighted with the way the place looks and the reaction from customers has been very positive. This building has a lot of tradition and I wanted to keep that but give it a contemporary twist."

Mr Harford, who has three young children with his wife Aimee and a teenage son, started as a barber in the town about 19 years ago.

He opened his own Mikey's Barber shop on the opposite side of the Market Place seven years ago but when the Gazette building was sold for redevelopment he saw it as a perfect place to expand into.

He said: "It is ideal as there is a lot more space but so close to the other shop that it is easy for my customers to find me. I have just put a note on the door saying look behind you."

One side of the downstairs has already been kitted out as the hub of his barber business using a former bar from a Bristol pub to create an original form of shelving that runs the whole length of the shop.

It has also been decorated with traditional white tiles and dark blue paint. But a modern edge has been added by flat-screen TVs and Xbox games consoles.

His two barbers from the old shop Craig Daykin and Will Bain have moved with him and he is soon to take on an extra employee.

The other half of the downstairs has been decorated and within the next few weeks will be ready to sell men's grooming products and accessories.

Double doors from the main part of the shop open on to a small decked courtyard where customers in warm weather can wait in the sunshine.

Mr Harford said: "I really love this building and I wanted to respect its heritage."

The shop opened on Monday, June 22 and many of his regulars have already popped in to take a look. Mr Harford said: "We want the atmosphere to be very friendly and for everyone, including children, to feel welcome."

The shop opens six days a week from 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday and from 6.30am to 4.30pm on Saturdays.