A BARBER shop whose customers include football stars is offering free haircuts to homeless people and those struggling financially due to Covid-19.

Kemal Akdag, who runs the Turkish barbershop Bladez Barbers in Shoreham, has had a busy couple of weeks since hairdressers were able to reopen as lockdown eased.

But the 25-year-old has still found time to fit in free haircuts for rough sleepers and said he is keen to help people who have been hit hard by the pandemic.

He said: "So many people have been affected. It is not just those who are homeless. A lot of people have lost their jobs.

The Argus:

"Some places don't want homeless people in their shop but I think it is a good thing to do.

"We give them a hair wash and a trim and also have a chat and we hear their story.

"It's a really good feeling for them to have their hair washed and see themselves in the mirror having had the haircut, and they leave happy and smiling."

Kemal, who has cut hair for the likes of Brighton and Hove Albion players Ben White and Shane Duffy, as well as Katie Price and her son Harvey, has been supporting the homeless since he opened the barbershop in 2019.

He said: "In the winter sometimes they just want some hot water for a coffee or to charge their phone.

"We did some free haircuts for the homeless on Christmas Eve and decided we would do it again after reopening.

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"It's just half an hour where they can spend time with someone and we can have a good chat and make them feel special.

"One guy who came in is just 28 years old and has found it hard to find a job, and he showed us pictures of his children.

"We have footballers like Ben White, Shane Duffy and Aaron Connelly who come here sometimes. I've cut Katie Price's hair and her son Harvey.

"Everyone is the same. It is just cutting hair and having a chat. All are welcome."

Kemal's family also have another branch of Bladez Barbers in Worthing, and both barbers take on students from colleges in Brighton and Worthing to help train them.

After more than three months of closure, he is happy to be cutting hair again.

He said: "It was so busy in that first week but is getting a bit more normal now.

"We are open six days a week, Monday to Saturday.

"It's so good to be back and such a great feeling to see people again."