A BARBERS in Pudsey has re-opened 10 months after a car smashed through the front of the shop.

Phil Townend, who founded Philip Nicholas barbers eight years ago, has welcomed customers back to his shop on Bradford Road, following the crash involving a black Audi A4, following a police chase, which caused the building to need reinforcing, in June last year.

Following the horror smash, local business owner Steven Lightfoot, from Pudsey Computers, started a JustGiving appeal for the two firms housed in the premises, Philip Nicholas barbers and Creating Utopia tattoo studio, which raised more than £3,000.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The scene at Philip Nicholas barbers and Creating Utopia tattoo studio after a car smashed through the front of the premises in Pudsey in June last yearThe scene at Philip Nicholas barbers and Creating Utopia tattoo studio after a car smashed through the front of the premises in Pudsey in June last year

Dwayne O’Brien, 28, of Cemetery Road, Leeds, was jailed for a total of 38 weeks for the incident on June 17, 2021. These charges included two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Another image of the black Audi A4 which crashed into the front of the shop on June 17, 2021Another image of the black Audi A4 which crashed into the front of the shop on June 17, 2021

He was also banned from driving for four months 21 days for a charge of driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road/in a public place without due care and attention in the crash.

O’Brien was sentenced at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on March 11, 2022.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The crash scene in Pudsey which led to the barber shop being shut for 10 months The crash scene in Pudsey which led to the barber shop being shut for 10 months

Philip Nicholas staff members relocated to Bella Bonce on Richardshaw Lane and The End Barbers, Bramley, immediately after the crash. The firm then set up a temporary home at Madison Offices while their original shop was being refurbished.

Mr Townend said: “It’s been 10 long months since the accident.

“We’d only been open six weeks after the third lockdown when the car went through our shop frontage in June 2021.

“The damage was extensive, the ceiling had to be propped up and the collision also took out two internal walls.

“The money raised made a huge difference and allowed us to get through those first few challenging weeks, where we didn’t know if the business could survive.

“Madison Offices on Richard Road in Pudsey offered us a space for free for the first few weeks and we were there for 10 months.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: From left, Jimmy Wegg, barber, and Phil Townend, owner and barber, outside the rebuilt and refurbished Philip Nicholas barber shop From left, Jimmy Wegg, barber, and Phil Townend, owner and barber, outside the rebuilt and refurbished Philip Nicholas barber shop

“We are so grateful to them, and to Steven, for what they did, coming to our rescue in our hour of need.”

Mr Townend and his team offer a wide range of barbering services including skin fades, longer hair, head shaves, beard trims, hot towel shaves and male grooming.

He added: “We are so excited to be back in our barbers’ shop.

“It’s been fully reconfigured and has a totally different look and feel.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming customers, old and new, back to our rightful place.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: From left, Jimmy Wegg, barber, and Phil Townend, owner and barber, outside the rebuilt and refurbished Philip Nicholas barber shop From left, Jimmy Wegg, barber, and Phil Townend, owner and barber, outside the rebuilt and refurbished Philip Nicholas barber shop