DANNY and Rachel Murray are used to transforming clients at their popular Baillie Street hair salon - but this year it's been the turn of the business to undergo an exciting re-vamp.

This summer the couple decided they needed a new name which reflected Rachel's involvement in their Baillie Street-based business, so the Danny Murray Hair Studio became Murray and Murray Hair.

And they decided the salon would also benefit from a dramatic makeover to go with the new name, so set about transforming the business with a vivid black and pink colour scheme.

They are now awaiting the arrival of independent nails and beauty technicians, who will be running their own business from within the salon.

Danny and Rachel are also employing a trainee stylist for the first time this year, after being impressed by 18-year-old Nicky Ray.

Danny had already lined up 10 interviews with potential trainees when Nicky called into the salon asking if there were any job opportunities.

She impressed Danny so much with her pro-active approach that she earned herself an interview and landed the job.

"We definitely got the right person for the job."

After almost two decades each in the business, Danny and Rachel are now keen to encourage their staff to enter styling competitions, as they themselves have already done with a great deal of success.

Earlier this year the team impressed the judges at the Schwarzkopf Creative Competition, winning in the 'best prediction' category.

Danny said: "Both of us have done a lot of competition work before, now we want to let the staff do it and really make a name for themselves.

"I've worked abroad, we've both worked a lot, so it's better to give the staff their turn at the competitions now."

When it came to creating the salon's new look, the Murrays were keen to employ Rochdale tradesmen to carry out the work, from decorating, to the windows and the signs.

Danny added: "We wanted to keep everything as local as possible.

"I had to get the furniture from Burnley, but if there had been a salon furniture manufacture in Rochdale I'd have gone there. We always try to support other local businesses.

"Everyone who did the work for us was local."

Danny says the tough economic climate has not affected business.

He adds: "People are still having their hair done to make themselves feel better.

"You still need to have your hair cut, even when times are a bit hard, people need a bit of a treat, that's why we were so keen to do the beauty room."