A landlord who faced financial ruin when a barber shop went out of business has celebrated the launch of his own salon.

Paul Hart had just returned from a holiday abroad when he discovered his tenants had closed their shop in Whitehawk Road, Brighton.

Inside, the building was just a shell. All the furniture, including mirrors, light fittings, plug sockets and even the toilet seats, had been removed.

Mr Hart who had bought the shop as a nest egg two years earlier - and invested £15,000 into the project - was left with crippling mortgage and loan repayments.

The 38-year-old said: "I put my head in my hands and said, 'What am I going to do?'. I got depressed because I could not see how I was going to service the debt."

When friends heard of his plight they rallied round and spurred him on to reopen the shop and turn the seemingly desperate situation to his own advantage.

They put him in contact with friendly plumbers and electricians and got their hands dirty themselves painting and replastering the walls.

Within 12 days the shop had been completely refitted.

Mr Hart, who had to borrow another £5,000 to refurbish the building, said he was amazed how much his friends had supported him, adding: "They told me I could turn the situation around and start my own hairdressing business in the shop.

"I knew nothing about cutting hair but I have had so much support. We got a hairdresser through an advert in The Argus.

"A hairdresser friend in Norfolk told me how to run a salon, where to find a stylist and the right furniture.

"Without the support and massive amounts of help from all my friends I would have lost everything. They have been unbelievable."

Yesterday the reopened salon, called Fusion Hair Studio, held a launch party attended by 40 friends and helpers.

Actress Rebecca Wheatley, who plays Amy in Casualty, and Maureen Nolan, from the Nolan Sisters, were on hand to cut the ribbon.

The shop will be managed by Mr Hart's partner Buz Butler, who used to be a dancer and has known Ms Wheatley through the theatre for 16 years.

Mr Butler, 40, said: "It was one of those situations where you can either moan about it or get on with it.

"And, with the help of the community, we got on with it."

Wednesday July 07, 2004