A hairdresser who has been offering free haircuts for a year said he wanted to give back to his local community during the cost of living crisis.

Josh Humphries, who occasionally runs free sessions at a community center in Telford, said “it’s really important right now that people do what they can to help”.

Her final session at Arleston Community Centre, during this week’s half term, was a welcome boost for those for whom a haircut would otherwise be a rare luxury.

Customer Tracey Quine said an appointment at the salon usually costs her “a lot of money”, so she cannot afford regular visits.

She showed up at Josh’s pop-up with one of her sons who “just needs to get a haircut…so he looks cool for school.”

“It costs a lot of money when you have two boys and a father who need a haircut every five to six weeks,” she told BBC Radio Shropshire.

Mr. Humphries’ sessions are part of the Welcoming spaces initiative, which brings together residents from parts of Telford and Wrekin over coffee while offering help with things like benefits, getting online and preventing scams.

Angela McClements is the local Labor councilor and helps organize the events in Arleston which take place every Tuesday morning.

“I am absolutely delighted that Josh has decided to give his time for free,” she said.

“We all know how expensive it is to get a haircut, especially when you have a family with children.”

She added that the hairdresser “would be here every week if he could”, but added that the February half term would likely be his next session.

For Mr Humphries, who usually works at the Black Orchid salon in Shifnal, it’s about reintegrating into the community.

“Angela sees first-hand the challenges people face in her role as a counselor and director of the community center,” he says.

“So I think it’s really important to try to create a little bit of positivity in people’s world.

“I love making people feel like the best version of themselves.”