THE owner of the newest addition to Highworth's high street has been overwhelmed by support from the public since she set up shop in the town.

Sarah Power opened Solo Lash and Nail Bar after working from home for two years and received an unexpected surge of new customers.

She said: "It's been fantastic so far and everyone's been really positive. I was apprehensive at first and didn't expect many people to turn up but but the opening day was crazy, it was absolutely packed.

"I've been so busy that it's been hard to find time to eat. It's just me in the salon and I'm swept off my feet so I even took a day off just to have a bit of a breather."

Sarah was born in England but grew up in Cape Town before moving back to Highworth six years ago, where she now lives with her husband and children.

The 38-year-old decided to start her own business in 2017. Sarah added: "I studied a beauty course but didn't go into that sort of career.

"I went into the corporate world for a while before stepping away from it in 2015, then studied updated beauty courses and began working for myself.

"It was hard working from home because it was difficult to get my name out there and I had to do a lot more advertising to try to get enough customers to keep going.

"My husband had been saying for a while that it would be nice to find a unit or room to rent so that I could have my own salon.

"One day, we drove past a place on the High Street with an advert out the front and it was just right. We stumbled across the perfect place at the perfect time, I feel very lucky.

"Having my own premises has been a lot better and busier, It's nice to be able to fully separate work from my home life now which I couldn't really do before."

After getting off to a good start that exceeded her expectations, Sarah hopes to keep the momentum going.

She said: "Getting this salon was my goal for a long time and now that I've got it, I hope my business continues to grow and I have high hopes for the future.

"Maybe at some point, I could employ staff so it's not just me in there but it's too early to say."