A NEW hair and beauty salon is using its launch day to raise money for St Helena Hospice.

Blowers will open in St John’s Street, Colchester, on Saturday.

Owner Naomi Blowers, 37, started on the new venture after her old salon closed on Boxing Day 2014, leaving her and her colleagues without work.

She said: “We decided we all wanted to still work together for our sake and for our clients.

“Some of us have worked together for 21 years.

“It is something I’ve always wanted to do, and I’ve always wanted to do it with the girls.”

Six employees from the old salon have joined her team, and she has taken on two new staff members.

To launch her new business, Naomi is hosting a family fun day in aid of St Helena Hospice.

Her best friend Nicola Noble, 38, is running the London Marathon for the cause, because her father died there two years ago, and cash raised on the day will go towards her fundraising target.

Naomi said: “We want to raise as much as possible. The hospice was so brilliant.”

The fundraiser will run from 9am to 4pm and will include children’s nail art, glitter tattoos, hair styling and a raffle with more than 50 prizes.