A STUDENT hairstylist and a nail artist scooped medals after wowing judges in a national competition.

Blackburn College students Tony Cavello and Roohi Saiyed won silver and bronze medals at the National World Skills competition at the NEC in Birmingham.

Tony, 21, was the silver medal winner out of 450 students after coming through the Advanced Hairdressing regional heats to qualify for the national finals.

On the day, the level three hairdressing apprentice was up against three others and had to perform a trio of tasks. His challenges were a women’s cut and colour, a men’s cut and ladies’ long hair style. Tony came second after beating off competition from students across the country.

For the stylist, who works at Hype Hair on Bolton Road in Darwen, it was another award to add to a long list, including first place in the north west at level two in the Hairdressing Council Competition.

He was a World Skills bronze medallist in 2012, won a Blackburn College star award in 2012 and came third in a hairdressing competition in South Africa recently.

Beautician Roohi, 31, completed the level three nail technology course last year at Blackburn College and she was in the intermediate nail art section in Birmingham.

Roohi, originally from India but who now lives in Blackburn, had to produce 10 different nail art designs, one for each digit, under the theme ‘mysteries’.

She was up against 17 other students and collected a bronze medal. Blackburn College finished 12th overall out of all the UK colleges in the World Skills event.

Karen Robertson, curriculum area manager for hair and beauty at Blackburn College, said: “We are so proud of Tony and Roohi for achieving such high accolades for the college, and helping us achieve 12th nationally out of all colleges in the National World Skills Event.”