A YOUNG entrepreneur who left school with no GCSEs has opened a new upmarket hairdressing salon in Melksham.

Ben Thompson is the proud owner of Benjamin Nicholas - the Bank Street salon is named after his first and middle names.

Mr Thomson, 31, opened the salon on Tuesday, September 1 following several months hard work and a significant investment.

"I have been interested in styling and fashion all my life," said Mr Thompson, who left George Ward School at the age of 15 with no qualifications.

He started work with a stonemasonry firm and originally trained as a stonemason at Bath College and then worked in London.

But hairdressing and styling was always his big dream and he retrained as a hair stylist in both men's and women's hair.

"I trained in Bath as a hair stylist and then worked for a celebrity hairdresser before starting my own business."

His upmarket salon occupies the premises of the former Barclays Bank and offers a new twist as it has a fully licensed bar and coffee house.

"It's going really well, a lot better than we expected for the first week, considering that we haven't advertised.

"I am employing three barbers, including myself, plus two people in the bar and coffee house."

The salon covers all aspects of gents hair styling, and also offers personal care, facial treatments and express massages.

The coffee house and bar will soon offer live music with a DJ on Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 9pm, and Mr Thompson is hoping to get a pavement license to put tables and chairs outside.

"We are hoping to put seating under the canopy. It makes sense to make as much use of the space as we can.

"We are offering a high standard of service in a relaxed environment; our job is to cater for the customers.

"Our customers will be able to wait in the bar and coffee house for their appointments, and we also have the option of walk-ins."