Milly Baker has just taken over at the La Zouch tanning salon in Ashby - at the age of just 21.

Moira-based Milly was previously working as a receptionist at a local veterinary surgery before deciding to branch out and become a young entrepreneur.

She bought the business from the previous owner with her mum, and although it meant opening just a few days before Christmas, Milly decided it was best to get up and running as soon as possible.

It was a move that paid off as, since moving into the Bath Street salon, the bookings have been rolling in.

Milly said: "I re-opened the salon before Christmas, but we've been fully booked and so busy.

"We've been gaining a lot of traffic on social media and it's been going really well.

"Myself and my mum brought the business but we only had a four week turnaround before opening on December 23.

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"But I wanted to get going with it, even though it was Christmas."

Milly says it was a 'spontaneous' decision to buy the business after working as a receptionist for two years.

She added: "It's definitely been a change of career, that's for sure.

"I just had had a feeling that being self-employed means a whole new freedom compared to having a regular job."

But Milly admitted that while she is relatively new to the tanning industry, she believes there is room to grow the business.

She added: "I only had my first sunbed four months ago.

"So I'm quite new to the industry anyway, never mind taking on a whole salon.

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"With sunbeds, it's not just about getting a tan, people come in with eczema, osteoarthritis, for mental well being or because they're in a routine.

"What surprised me most was how really popular it is, how many older clients we get and the fact that the mix between men and women is 50-50.

"That surprises everybody."

But Milly says that her customers are sometimes equally surprised.

She added: "What sometimes shocks a lot of people is my age.

"I purchased the business when I was 20 - I'm 21 now - and people often find that's a bit odd.

"It was a spontaneous decision to buy the business, but it seems to be paying off very well at the moment."