A barber who returned to his roots by offering free haircuts on a deprived estate has opened his first shop inside a former railway office.

Daniel Hall, 27, of Howard Close in Waltham Abbey, decided to restore the co-office at Chingford Station in Station Approach after 'falling in love' with the dilapidated Tudor building. 

Mr Hall officially opened Barber Station with full-time staff member Danielle Laplain, 19, on Monday after spending £50,000 developing it over a two-year period. 

He said: "We knocked most of it down but kept most of its original features.  

"It used to be an old record shop but the owner died so it was just sitting there empty for three years. 

"When I took it over, it was totally rotten but I feel in love with its quirkiness and wanted to bring it back to life," said Mr Hall. 

During the planning and building work, Mr Hall returned to Aldriche Way estate in Highams Park where he spent his childhood growing up and where his aunt still lives. 

It was in the estate's community room that he trained up Ms Laplain and together they gave hundreds of free haircuts to the young, old, and vulnerable every Wednesday for a year. 

Ms Laplain had completed a thirteen week barbering course at Epping Forest College when Mr Hall took her under his wing and 'got her up to speed'. 

She said: "Daniel has been absolutely amazing. If it was not for him and Aldriche Way, I wouldn't be here right now. 

"He's done so much good for the community and now he's taken me on where I've made a career out of it.

"Since opening, we've had a great response from the community and they really appreciate its kept its traditional look and been brought back to life."

Mr Hall will continue giving free hair-cuts at Aldriche Way and will invite the most deprived children to Barber Station in the coming months. 

Chairman Darren Lupton of the Tenants, Residents and Leaseholders Association (TRLA) and resident of Aldriche Way praised Mr Hall for his work in bringing the community together. 

"He's done tremendous work on this estate and cut dozens of people's hair from the young, old, and mentally disabled. 

"The scheme helped build relationships and bring people that may otherwise be isolated, together. 

"With Danielle, he saw an opportunity and really embraced it by bringing her up to speed and ironing out the rough edges," said the father-of-seven.