A HAIR salon in Tadcaster has finally re-opened its doors, five months after being swamped by four feet of floodwaters on Boxing Day.

The owner of Genesis Hair Design in Commercial Street says repairing and re-equipping it has cost as much as £80,000.

Paula Marr said that while the bill will be covered by insurance, her insurers had refused to provide renewed flood cover for the future.

Because of this, steps had been taken to ensure the salon could recover more quickly and at a lower cost if it comes under renewed threat of such serious flooding in future.

She said plaster boards had been screwed to a metal framework, so they could be removed and replaced quite quickly if flooded. New wooden flooring could also be quickly ripped up and replaced.

She also had a plan of action ready to remove all the equipment and take it to a place of safety if the River Wharfe once more threatened to burst its banks.

"We were too complacent last time," she said. "We didn't think it would flood like that, but we won't make that mistake again."

She said the salon was only closed for one day because of the flooding - New Years Eve - because it was due to be closed anyhow in the days just after Christmas, and from New Year it moved to temporary premises within another salon, Vanity Hair, further up the hill in Commercial Street.

It later moved to temporary premises in High Street, and also provided a mobile service to customers.

She said the closure of Tadcaster bridge had affected trade because of the loss of through business, but the salon had suffered less than it might because it had taken great efforts to keep communicating with clients and keep them informed what was happened.

She thanked staff, customers and the people of Tadcaster for their support, and also D and B Home and Stone for their excellent work in repairing the premises.