AN INDOOR soft play zone will be making parents' jobs a whole lot easier, transforming part of the premise into a mini hair salon for kids. 

Tommy-Lee's Soft Play, on Whitehaven's Queen Street, has launched the initiative, combining fun and practicality, as they approach their first birthday. 

Kelly-Anne Kirkbride, who was previously a barber at the Lad Barber in Egremont, knows all too well of kids' apprehension of the barber chair. 

"I've been a barber/hair stylist for a number of years now, I understand the struggle of kids' cuts especially when they're nervous and unsure of what is happening.

"So with that, I'm hoping that seeing a friendly face they know and in a child's environment that they get to have fun and it might settle their nerves. 

"Haircuts and play for the little ones and a cuppa and crack for the parents," she said. 

As the soft play zone turns one this Saturday (July 8), Kelly-Anne's planned a special free 'birthday bash' with all the money raised going towards a local charity. 

"We are hoping to see old and new faces on our free day.

"We will be selling raffle tickets to raise money for the Henderson Suite at Whitehaven Hospital and will have collection buckets out for people to donate.

"We chose the Henderson Suite as it's a charity very close to our hearts as it's helped a number of our family as well as a lot of people in our area," Kelly-Anne said.