A hair salon hoping to help spread a little positivity has replaced its Covid-19 mural with a new design.

Linehan and Co in Rainham had the original art work painted on the side of its High Street building during lockdown in February 2021, went the business was closed.

Owner Amanda Linehan commissioned Whitstable artist Sam Giles to create the mural to "remind clients we are all on a journey to get out of this."

But after a tough year, the 33-year-old said she wanted to start looking forward.

Amanda said: "We know that Covid is still here and while we want our customers to know we are still being careful and keeping them safe, we wanted to come away from Covid and give our customers and the community a little more of a positive vibe."

The mural of a woman flicking away a Covid-19 ball has now been replaced by a new painting based on the famous portrait The Girl with a Pearl Earring which has been inspired by a new business venture.

Amanda's husband John is opening a coffee bar within the salon so in the painting by Sam, whose artistic name is Dream Safari, the girl is holding a coffee cup.

The new coffee bar, which will be up and running by the beginning of February, will be open to anyone, not just salon customers.

Amanda added: "My husband is now a fully qualified barista and we've got a coffee bar being built inside the salon.

"We are going to be offering takeaways and a small sit in area on Sundays as well."

The mural took Sam three days to complete and it has already been getting lots of attention - with drivers tooting their car horns as they go past and people asking about it at the salon.

Amanda, who lives in nearby Farnham Close, said: "Sam and I sat down together to come up with the idea for the new mural. I wanted something that was going to grab people's attention.

"I know she's not everyone's cup of tea and not everyone is going to know who she is, but The Girl with a Pearl Earring is an iconic piece and I want the salon to be iconic."