SWINDON hairdressers are proving a cut above when it comes to creative styling.

Goldworthy's hairdressing, in Catherine Street, scooped two first place awards at a competition, which attracted nearly 100 salons from across the region.

Entrants had 45 minutes to create a hairstyle based on one of the four elements fire, wind, water or earth.

Graduate stylist Matthew Evans, 19, from Peatmoor, won his first year category with his windswept look.

He said: "It was a lovely surprise to win. My style, which combined horizontal rolls and a fringe, only took 20 minutes to create. But it needed a lot of hairspray to stay in place."

Stylist Jade Harris, 19, from Priory Vale, was also triumphant with her style. She said: "I also chose wind and created a mohican look. It was a fun day."

The contest, hosted by hairstylist training company Span, was held in Bracknell on Sunday and stylists from Wiltshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire attended.

A star from the reality TV hair and beauty show The Salon, John, presented the awards.

Jodie Hyde, 17, apprentice stylist at Knock 'em Dead, in Morley Street, came second in her category with a representation of earth, featuring twigs.

And Nicole Cotrell, 17, colour technician at JJ's Hair Studio, in Crombey Street, came third in her heat with a vibrant variation on a fire theme.