STUDENTS at a special school had a chance to try their hand at hairdressing at a local academy,

Some as young 14, the schoolgirls from St Luke’s School in Redbourn learnt how to wash and style hair as part of an unusual vocational scheme for younger students offered by the Harpenden Hair Academy.

Lucie Samson, who is hoping to follow in the footsteps of her hairdresser sister, said: “It is much more interesting than I thought it would be. I like all the different styles that you can do.”

And classmate Ella-Louise Pirie said: “I’ve not really done hair and beauty before and I wanted to style my hair more so I wanted to learn how. I’ve learned how to do a fishtail plait and a normal plait.”