HAIRDRESSING salon staff are dreaming of winning a national competition and bagging themselves a holiday.

Saks, in Market Place, Durham, is one of three salons in the final of the L'Oreal Salon of the Year competition for all the businesses in the Saks franchise group.

And Trisha Jackson, mother of franchise-holder Dean Jackson, of Newton Aycliffe, is in the running for the title of receptionist of the year.

If Durham clinches the salon of the year award, it will win a £5,000 holiday for all the 14 staff, who on Sunday will be travelling down for the awards ceremony at The Grosvenor Hotel, in London.

Mr Jackson, who has held the franchise for 12 years, said: "It is a great achievement to be finalists. The team are a bit hyper- excited about it.

"If we win, we get a nice little holiday."

He is paying for the team to travel to, and stay in, London.

"Some of the younger ones haven't even been to London before, so it is nice to take them there for the first time," he said.

"It would be fantastic if we got salon of the year and receptionist of the year.''

The salon was assessed for such factors as staff retention, customer loyalty and the sale of care products.

Ms Jackson, who also lives in Newton Aycliffe, stands to win £250 worth of care products if she triumphs in the final against three competitors.

"I have been here four years, after doing 22 years in a factory," she said.

"I'm just so proud. I didn't think I would ever get to this level. It is absolutely brilliant to be nominated.''