A THURROCK hairdresser received an unexpected gift of thanks after her alertness helped save a life.

About three months ago Danielle Smith, who works at The Classic Hair Company on Montreal Road, Tilbury, was about to colour a client's hair when she noticed a nasty looking spot on her scalp.

She approached colleagues and asked what she should do as she was not happy to colour her hair with such a nasty looking spot.

The client was advised to go and get the spot checked out before attempting any colouring and that proved to be a life-saving moment.

A spokesperson at the salon said yesterday (Sunday, 6 January): "We told Danielle to tell the lady to go to her doctors and get it checked out before we would attempt any colour, the client thanked us.

"We didn't see her again until yesterday when she brought Danielle in some flowers literally saying Danielle had saved her life.

"The spot had been shown to be cancerous and the client had to have treatment and is now all clear. Had she not come in that day and ignored what she thought was just a little spot who knows what might have happened?

"Danielle was just happy to have been such a great help and she was very thankful to receive the flowers. We all left the salon on such a high knowing we do make a difference by just doing the job we love."