IT was a great hair day on Monday when Headcase barbers re-opened almost a year after the historic timber-framed building at the top of the High Street was gutted by fire.

Salon owners Mandie Coombes and Simon Gill celebrated the relaunch on Sunday night with more than 40 friends, colleagues and supporters in their newly restored ground floor premises.

Intrepid Mandie, who arrived at the scene of the fire in the early hours of Friday, July 8, 2016, in her pyjamas to deal with the crisis, was back in business again the following Monday with her team, but working from The Hair Chair on High Street car park.

The three-storey building dating back to the early 17th century, was devastated by the fire, and the ground floor barber’s shop suffered the greatest damage.

Specialist builders Deeks and Steere undertook the restoration works and completed the ground floor first, before moving on to restore the rest of the building.

“We had a great relaunch party,” Mandie said. “We had magicians and musicians to entertain everyone.

“We cannot wait to be back in business and open again for our customers.

“It’s been a long year being closed and the reopening felt a long way off.

“But now it’s here, we are sure the business will be more successful than ever.

“We have uncovered some amazing structural features that have become main features to the new-look Headcase – the fireplace being one of them.

“We are looking forward and hope to see everyone.”