A BARBER who has cut hair in Pendle for half a century has no plans to hang up the scissors just yet.

Peter Wilkinson is celebrating 50 years in the trade but the 66-year-old said he plans to carry on cutting for the foreseeable future.

Peter began his hair-raising career as an apprentice for Stanley Henley in Colne, spending four years learning the ropes and attending college in Manchester, achieving his City and Guilds barbering qualification.

But at the age of 20 he decided to venture out on his own, and Peter Wilkinson Barbers has been based in Church Street, Barnoldswick, ever since.

“I enjoy the work,” said Peter, “I enjoy meeting people and chatting to people every day.

“It’s been a great career for me. I started out and soon realised it was a pretty good trade to be in, people always need their hair cutting.

“I work five and a half days a week and I must have had thousands of customers over the years. I’ve never served anyone famous, although there has been a few infamous customers in Barnoldswick over the years!”

Despite reaching pension age Peter loves the social side of his job so much he intends to carry on for a while longer.

And as one of Barnoldswick’s retail senior citizens, he is well placed to say how the town has developed over the years.

“Barnoldswick is a great place now,” he said. “I grew up here and it’s a great town centre now with plenty of shops doing well.

“I think I’ve been here the longest in the town, everybody knows who I am and I love being based here.”