A BARBER shop with a difference has opened in Freshwater.

Onelove, run by Lawrence Fo and Karla Elton, will be involved with the Lions Barber Collective charity, which raises awareness between barbers and their clients to prevent suicide among men.

The couple met while working together and Lawrence explained: "We have struggled with mental health problems ourselves and moved to the Island from Buckinghamshire in May to leave behind the hustle and bustle on the mainland.

"I've been a barber for 22 years and worked all over the world teaching people about barbering and working on lots of trade shows.

"Now we will hold monthly drop-in sessions called the Lions Den which will involve a mental health professional who will talk to men about their problems.

"A lot of men see it as a stigma and a weakness to ask for help. They end up carrying their problems as a burden on their shoulders.

"Public Health IW is supporting us, and will have someone there at our sessions. These are non-clinical and non-judgemental evenings, and they are there for people to have a general chat over a cuppa and some cake.

"We are also part of Barber Talk which is a training programme specialising in suicide prevention and spotting the signs of mental health problems while chatting to their clients.

"When we came over to the Island we chose Freshwater because of the community spirit here, and we want to become part of that community. We will have full details of our meetings posted on our Facebook page once we are up and running."