A HAIRDRESSING trainee from Chester-le-Street has beaten off stiff competition to secure a top title at one of the country's biggest contests for coiffeurs.

First year Durham Business Club apprentice Joanne Price, 17, came third in the fantasy section against more than 50 hopefuls at the National Hairdressing Championships, at Blackpool's Winter Gardens.

Her creation was the crowning glory of a mermaid in the Fantasy Avant Garde category. The funky hairdo was designed for mermaid-for-the-day and fellow trainee Natalie Shelton, 16.

The business club enters the competition annually, and this year was the only training provider in the North-East to take part in the contest, which attracts entries from major hairdressing academies such as Saks.

Jayne Robinson, the club's hairdressing manager, said: "Joanne did brilliantly, particularly as she only had two weeks' notice to prepare after someone else who was taking part had to drop out."

The shimmering mermaid's outfit was designed by the business club's work-based learning director, Susan Matthews.

Ms Price designed the hair to look like a mermaid's as she emerged from the sea and the tousled result was guaranteed to turn heads.

She said: "I was inspired by Susan's costume, and she had to look like she'd just come out of the sea, but also look shimmering. I'm really pleased to have got such a good result and hope we can do as well next time."