‘Handsworth is supporting us’: Barbers offered places to work after shop is destroyed in Sheffield crash

Stay Fresh Barbers on Handsworth Road, Handsworth, was destroyed when a school bus ploughed into the shop at 7.50am today.

The bus, carrying 24 children, was taking the youngsters to three schools in Sheffield, including Birkdale School and Sheffield High School for Girls.

A number have been taken to hospital for treatment they are not believed to have been seriously injured.

Stacey Smith, 29, who owns Stay Fresh Barbers with business partner Neville Clarke, 40, said she was devastated about the bus crash.

She said: “At 7.50am this morning, I got a phone call saying a bus has gone straight through your shop.

“We didn't believe it at first but the whole driver's side and the front where people sit is in our shop, touching where people sit inside.

“It's a mess but it could have been much worse, a lot of people could have been hurt or someone could have died.

“Some of the kids have got a few minor injuries from the impact, nose bleeds and things like that, but there is nothing serious.”

Ms Smith, who only opened the barber's in May last year, said other local businesses had offered them the use of their premises.

She said: “We used to work across the road but decided to set up ourselves.

“The whole of Handsworth has supported us, we were doing so well and then this happens.”