THE closure of a famous Worcester department store has led to two friends setting up in business.

Nicola Moore and Nichola Milton worked at the former Russell & Dorrell department store, in the High Street, as make-up consultants.

When the pair found out the store was due to close - it closed in January this year after 170 years in the Faithful City - they seized their opportunity and opened their own beauty salon, Tip 2 Toe.

Between them, they had clocked up more than 14 years at the popular department store - which has re-emerged as a furniture store in Dolday, Worcester - but it had always been their "dream" to set up on their own.

"We left in June 2002, with a view to opening our own business," said Miss Moore, aged 36, who was counter manager for Clinique at Russell & Dorrell for six years.

"We knew the store was going to close and thought 'It's now or never'!"

Mrs Milton, 33, from Claines, was counter manager for Clarins for eight years, and they would often chat about their future business in between serving customers.

"We talked about it for ages - it was our dream," said Miss Moore, from Upton-upon-Severn.

"But it was a matter of finding premises that were right for us and which we could afford. We looked at lots and lots of shops in Worcester - it took us about a year to get the shop together."

They eventually moved into premises above Designer Depot, in Charles Street, which they have since redecorated, and they have been trading now for almost three months.

The duo carry out all the usual beauty treatments, but specialise in nails, including artwork and gems. Weddings and hen parties, when the pair will visit the client's house, are a speciality.

"The shop's looking really lovely - we've had lots of compliments," said Miss Moore.

"We did mobile work and in-store promotions work to start with, to bring in some money - the equipment we wanted for the shop cost quite a lot - but now things are going really well.

"We certainly don't regret our decision. But maybe if the store hadn't closed we wouldn't have taken the plunge in the first place!"