AN apprentice hairdresser at an Oxford salon has won a place in a national final of a new competition.

Catherine Burgess, second from left above, will compete at the Concept Hair Apprentice of the Year 2020.

Miss Burgess, an apprentice at Anne Veck salon, won her place at the South East regional heat in Aylesbury on February 12 with a style on the theme of Prom Hair.

She was ably assisted by her model - 19-year-old Courtney Gicquel from Wantage, also an assistant at Anne Veck.

Miss Burgess will now compete in the national final at the L’Oréal Professionnel Academy in London on March 26.

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Miss Burgess, who has been an apprentice for just seven months, said: "I’m very excited and very proud of myself.

"I’ve entered a few competitions but nothing as big as this.

"We focussed on Egyptian beauty to try and be a bit different, but made sure we kept it modern."

Concept Hair Apprentice of the Year, taking place for the first time this year, aims to be a celebration of the UK’s very best hairdressing and barbering students.

The competition is sponsored by L’Oréal, Cloud Nine, Wahl, SalonsDirect, Bettertons and the Fellowship for British Hairdressing, and is 'supported' by education partner VTCT.