A Trimley hairdresser has described how the past three months have been the toughest in their 29 years cutting for the community.

Nick Murrell who, along with wife Fiona, owns Finicky's Hair Design in Trimley, suffered blow after blow since being forced to close on March 23 due to the government lockdown.

First, they lost two incomes, their long-time landlord proved inflexible and refused to allow them a rent holiday, now a staff member who had been furloughed, has announced she will not be returning to work after her notice period.

But Nick and Fiona refused to buckle under and with lots of help from family, friends and supporters, are opening for business on Saturday with renewed vigour.

"It has been pretty tough be we have coped." Nick told Nub News. "This has been the toughest time in our 29 years.

"Fiona and I are partners in the business so to lose two incomes was like having a tap turned off and that was quite scary.

"We did not know what was going to happen, what we were going to do and of course we didn't know if we were going to get ill.

"Our saving dried up because we had no income but the outgoings were still going out."

Rent on the property in the parade of shops in Faulkeners Way, was due on April 1 but Nick's plea for help from their landlord of 22 years was refused.

"I used to get on very well the landlord who have always been good with rears and everything," said Nick. "We emailed them and explained our situation but they just sent us a short sharp reply basically saying; 'no holiday, rent to be paid as agreed.'

"That was brutal and gave us a sleepless night."

Like many businesses Finicky's was entitled to a business rates grant from East Suffolk council and the £10,000 proved a vital lifeline.

"Without that we would have gone under," admitted Nick. 'It kept us afloat but obviously that went quite quickly on bills."

On the plus side, was the generosity of their customers who have been sending them vouchers and gifts to see them through.

"They have been amazing," said Nick. "It has been emotional really and that has been the nicest thing.

"Many of our customers are our friends and we really want to thank them for their support.

"We used to live in Trimley and know the community well. We have people who we used to cut their hair when they were children, and now we are cutting their children.

"Everyone came together and we have survived to tell the tale."

Family, including Fiona's parents have also provided groceries and other things for the couple who still have three children living at home.

Since learning from the government when they could reopen Nick and Fiona have been going through the whole salon thoroughly with a deep clean.

"We are a bit obsessive with cleanliness as it is," said Nick. "We have gone a bit overboard for our customers.

"We will be back at work seven days a week now to recover

The duo have spent around £1.5k on personal protection equipment, specialist steam cleaning and there will be protocols in place when the salon opens on Saturday morning, with Nick planning to be there in preparation at 5am.

Nick has spent some of the lockdown pursing his interest in abstract art and while here may still be tough times ahead are to ready to meet them head on, with a whole new perspective.