PETER knows the perfect "root" to tranquillity after a busy day in his Burnley salon.

It's the short stroll round Rowley Lake, a man-made beauty spot which attracts an abundance of wild life, just a few steps away from the town's bustling streets.

Peter also likes to get off the gravel walks and into the woodland, which stretches up into Briercliffe and provides the perfect antidote to hours of hair styling.

"When you are dealing with people all day long, it's nice to find a place that's quiet and peaceful and I manage to get to Rowley at least once or twice a week.

"It's best at this time of year, when there's snow on the ground and not another person in sight. Instead there's lots of wildlife -- I saw a young female fox last week -- and you can watch the birds and feed the ducks."

Peter first started hairdressing 40 years ago and has run a number of salons, the latest in Standish Street, Burnley. He was the youngest-ever president of the town's Chamber of Trade and the youngest hairdresser to be named as a master craftsman by the Hairdressers' Federation.

In 1981 he had his hands insured by a London broker for £1million.

He added: "Rowley is a wonderful place and very picturesque, considering it's so close to the town and man-made.

"And if you're prepared to go off the beaten track it's amazing what you see and come across."