A HAIRDRESSER is hanging up his scissors after more than 40 years cutting hair in Trowbridge.

Michael Holbrow, 66, owner of Michael on Waterworks Road, plans to take it easy and spend more time watching cricket. The cycling hairdresser has been a popular sight over the past 43 years, commuting from Bradford on Avon to Trowbridge in the saddle.

Mr Holbrow said: "It usually takes me about 20 minutes to get to work, but if I really go for it, I can do it in 15." Originally from Bath, he started his career as an apprentice at Bernard of Mayfair in the city.

He wasn't paid anything during his indentures, but after he'd finished them he was paid £1 a week. He said: "It doesn't sound a lot, but we used to get tips from the American tourists which were very handy."

The training was hard, but he graduated from cleaning the toilets on his first day to managing a workforce of 60.

In 1963 he decided to move to Trowbridge and open up his own salon. He found premises on Castle Street, where he stayed for 20 years, then moving to Waterworks Road, where he has been for 24 years.

Mr Holbrow said the key is having good staff: "I have only ever had to dismiss one member of staff in over 100 that I have trained, and I still get Christmas cards from many of them." Mr Holbrow said he plans to spend more time with his wife Lynn, 62, and keeping up with the cricket.