AN East Renfrewshire barber opened his doors at the stroke of midnight as a thank-you to loyal customers who have supported him through lockdown.

And Tony Mann's Barber Shop, in Giffnock, will remain open until midnight tonight as the 24-year-old businessman celebrates getting the green light to cut hair again for the first time since the end of March.

He was joined by colleague Margaret McGillivray as they welcomed Sean Munro and Mitchell Wildman as their first customers – and among the first people in Scotland to have an official haircut – in nearly four months.

Tony said he was delighted to see barber shops and hairdressers finally being given permission to reopen as the Scottish Government moves to phase three of its route map out of lockdown.

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He added: "I've not been cutting hair since Friday, March 20. To give back to my clients who have been so loyal during this whole lockdown, I thought I'd do 24 hours, just to get everyone seen to and make sure there were no fights for getting a haircut."

Tony also expressed his gratitude for his clients' "absolutely amazing" response.

"No-one could prepare for Covid because no-one knew what was going to happen, so I just had to play ball and do everything to the book," he said.

"I've got three months behind me, so I don't think 24 hours is going to be a problem. I've been climbing munros for the last six weeks. If I can do six hours hiking up a hill, what's standing in the same spot cutting hair?"

Hairdressers and barbers are among the latest premises opening in Scotland today, along with indoor pubs and restaurants, as further coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

Tony's business opened in 2016, with the owner recently adding social distancing stickers, branded hand sanitiser and face masks and other personal protective equipment to the shop, which looks "completely different even to six months ago."

He hopes to welcome 48 customers in half-hour slots during the course of his marathon 24-hour shift, with Margaret seeing around 34 in her 14-hour stint.

Mitchell was first through the door at the Fenwick Place shop for a fade cut at the stroke of midnight.

The school student said he had found lockdown hard but getting his hair cut again was "amazing."

He added: "It's been a long wait but I'm glad to finally get it done. I've had a few home cuts but they weren't the best.

"You always get a good haircut, friendly people and friendly staff. You don't want anything else.

"I come every two weeks. I like to keep it looking good."