A hairdressing salon in Dolgellau is helping protect its clients by offering fire safety advice alongside their traditional cutting and colouring services.

Liz Morley, proprietor of GM Hairdressers, Arran Bridge prides herself on the friendly service she provides to her wide customer base, and saw the opportunity to help protect her clients. This came about after one of her customers, a fire service staff member, explained about the importance of fire safety in the home.

Liz explained: "We have customers of all ages and backgrounds coming into the salon - they love to talk and it got me thinking that I'd like to make sure that they take something away from our chats to help keep them as safe as possible."

Paul Williams, Community Safety Support Worker for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is one of Liz's regular hairdressing clients. It was while they talked at the salon than the idea to promote fire safety was formed.

Liz now gives basic fire safety advice to her clients on the use of heated hair appliances and the importance of working smoke alarms and promotes the free home fire safety checks offered by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Paul said: "Many of the residents from local residential homes for the elderly and local centres for young people with mental health issues attend regular appointments at the salon- the relaxed atmosphere and rapport the clients have with Liz means that this is a great way to get fire safety messages across to harder to reach members of the community.

"Liz's commitment to protecting the welfare of her clients is inspirational and the work she's doing is going a long way to prevent fires and safeguard lives within the Dolgellau community."

Liz added: "I'm just happy to be helping to protect the safety of the customers who support me and I hope the advice that I pass on will help them think about fire safety in the home."

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service also offer free home fire safety checks for all residents in North Wales. During a home fire safety check, a member of the Service will visit your home, help formulate a safety escape plan, give tips and guidance on fire safety in the home, and if necessary, install a new smoke alarm free of charge.

For a free home fire safety check, please call the 24 hour hotline on 0800 169 1234, visit www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk or e-mail cfs@nwales-fireservice.org.uk.