A POPULAR family hairdresser in Oswaldtwistle is looking forward to his well-earned retirement after only taking one week's holiday in the last 20 years.

Peter Bentley, 60, has been in business for the past 41 years at his salon on Union Road, and in all of that time the dedicated snipper has never had a day off sick.

Mr Bentley said he has made no plans for his retirement but is sure that he will stay busy walking and gardening.

He runs Peter Bentley Hairstylists and will hang up his comb and scissors for the final time on February 25.

More than 100 people of all ages pass through his doors every week.

Mr Bentley, who lives in West Bradford with wife Paula, said: "I love the job and we have always had pets and horses so it has never been very easy to get away on holiday.

"It was not a conscious decision to never take any time off, it just happened and I'm used to it now.

"When I'm retired it will be nice to get in the car with Paula and just drive away somewhere and not think about work."

The last time he went away on holiday was 12 years ago when the couple visited the Scottish Borders.

Mr Bentley started his career in hairdressing as a 15-year-old in Blackburn. He grew up in Oswaldtwistle and jumped at the chance to set up his own business in the town when he was just 19.

He said he wouldn't change a thing about the last 41 years: "If I had my time again I would do it all the same," he said.

"It is a wonderful job and I've never woken up and thought I don't want to go to work'.

"I will miss the customers. That will be the hardest part of giving up the shop."

He said he had customers from all across the North West and even cuts the hair of one woman who now lives in the United Arab Emirates and drops in for hair cut whenever she is in town.

Mr Bentley has two grandchildren and he said he hopes to spend more time with them in his retirement. He said he also hopes to take a computer course.

Shop manageress Val Clark is also leaving at the same time as Mr Bentley.

On his retirement the shop will be taken over by Mr Bentley's friend Pete Panek and will remain open as a salon.