Two hairdressers plan to keep their business running as usual despite their salon being damaged in a fire over the weekend.

Crews were called to the Dontev Hair Salon on Saturday afternoon after a tumble dryer began smoking.

The fire damaged the garage and back room of the business in Loudon Way, Godinton.

Steve and Donna Liddle, who have run the business for 19 years, rushed to the site after they received a call saying the tumble dryer was smoking.

"By the time we got there, the fire brigade had been called and they were here within a few minutes," Mrs Liddle said.

"The crew put the fire out, it all seemed quite quick.

"The people of Godinton Park were incredible, some of them took the clients into their houses to remove the colour from their hair.

"People in the flats up above us were bringing us drinks and making sure everybody was OK.

"We were even cutting hair on the grass outside after the fire had been put out, luckily it was a nice day."

Since the fire, other businesses in Ashford, including Kelly Andrews Hair and Design and Hewetsons Hairdressing Boutique, have let the team use their premises to allow them to continue trading.

The owners hope to move back to their Godinton home soon.

Mrs Liddle, who lives in Shadoxhurst, said: "We have got team of 15 girls who have grown with us over the years and we have to keep them in work.

"Once the fire crew let us in and we could see the extent of the damage, we knew immediately that we needed to get the team and our clients back to normal.

"By 4pm that afternoon, one salon had offered us some space for this week which was incredible.

"All of our clients have been informed and are happy to move to other premises.

"We are trading as normal, the team have been amazing and the clients have been incredible."