AFTER hitting the right note as a singing duo, Peter and Paula McGowan are hoping to harmonise in business together.

The couple, who live in Brandon, on the outskirts of Durham, are seeking to equal their singing reputation with success in the beauty business.

Paula, a qualified beautician has held three ambitions - to return to her roots in Brandon, to have her own chain of salons and to keep in close singing harmony with husband Paul.

"Although I was born and brought up in Durham, I always wanted to live in Brandon where my grandfather, Greenwell Pearson, was so well known,'' she said.

Moving into the village and setting up the business with her husband, in the Co-op shopping centre, has seen Paula fulfil her first dream.

With Peter's business skills, she has also realised her second dream of opening the first of what she is determined will be a chain of studios.

With a family of five children and a busy business to keep going, the couple admit that their ambition to continue with their music has been a bit more difficult to maintain.

But the vocal harmony duo known as "At the hop" and who have a real affection for 50s and 60s music will still be available to sing at birthdays and family celebrations.

"We could never totally give up our music,'' said Paula.

The studio can be contacted on 0191-378 4011.