ONE of the stars of the hair and beauty world is set to open a new salon in Rossendale.

Celeste Arnold, who has won a number of top industry honours and worked with stars from sport and show business, will open her new salon in Market Street, Edenfield, on Monday.

The 30-year-old, from Rochdale, said: "My work has taken me all over the country but I have never had my own salon, so I am very excited by the challenge.

"I have been looking for the right place for some time and Edenfield is ideally placed, as I have been able to build up a considerable client base in the area."

The salon, which will be called Celeste Arnold Hair and Make-Up, has been made possible partly due to support from Kingfisher's SmartStart programme, which helps people wanting to start their own business.

Celeste started work with Rochdale's John Peers Hair Studio aged just 14 and by her 18th birthday had won national recognition by clinching a £3,000 scholarship in the Young Protg of the Year Awards.

In the early '90s, Celeste was invited to take part in the Wella UK tour, the World Hairdressing Congress in London and the World Hair Olympics. She later worked with Charles Worthington at his flagship London salon, where celebrity clients included actress and model Sophie Dahl.

In 1998, she won a final place in the 1998 Northern Hairdresser of the Year Awards. Five years ago, she decided to return to Rochdale to train as a make-up artist.

Last year she worked in the VIP area at the British Grand Prix, working with the drivers, their wives and celebrities like Sir Elton John and Jamie Theakston.