A NORTH-East hairdressing success story has opened a flagship store in Covent Garden, London.

Saks Hair and Beauty's new salon is its largest yet, offering more new beauty treatments.

The company has come a long way since opening its small salon in Priestgate, Darlington, in 1975. The chain now has a group of more than 80 salons.

But Saks has pledged to stay Darlington-based, where hairdressers Dennie Cheesbrough and Malcolm Hanson set up the first salon on a shoestring budget.

Saks Covent Garden will offer an extensive range of treatments, including a mist-on six second tanning booth, teeth whitening and Botox treatments.

Stephen Kee, managing director of Saks, said: "Saks are pioneers. Covent Garden brings the latest treatment technology to the market place."

Andrew Barton, international creative director of Saks, heads the new salon. He has appeared on TV as a guest stylist and also helped make over the contestants as they were eliminated from the Big Brother 2 household.

The stylist, who has also worked on fashion shows for Prada, Versace and Calvin Klein, said: "Everyone's lives run at a million miles an hour. We're the ultimate space where people can take a pit-stop."

The Darlington salon, now in Houndgate, is owned by the national Saks director Richard Bland and was named Saks Hair and Beauty Salon of the Year at the Saks awards ceremony this year.