TWO hairdressers from a top Blackpool salon hope to earn the title of cream of the crop after being shortlisted for a nationwide competition.

Stylist Wayne Scott and salon junior Natalie Baker -- who work for Saks Hair and Beauty on Queen Street in the resort -- were plucked from 1000 employees to be regional finalists in the salon group's annual Saks Awards.

Both had to submit photographs of their work in order to be considered for the contest which is to be held at the NEC Metropole Hotel in Birmingham on January 20. And they will have to prove they can cut-it against competitors from all over the UK if they want to win one of the 30 awards on offer.

Owner of Blackpool Saks, Pat Wood said: "I am very proud of Wayne and Natalie's achievements and we are all looking forward to the big night in a few weeks time.

"We know that we offer our clients a fantastic service at the salon and every member of the team is highly talented, so it's great that our talent isn't going unnoticed by the Saks group on a national level."