A barber who started a new life in Scotland after escaping war-ravaged Syria has proved he is a cut above the rest by giving out free haircuts to the elderly.

Mounzer Darsani trimmed the locks of customers in the lounge of Bield’s Crosshill Gardens development in Port Glasgow in a bid to give back to the community that welcomed him and his family with open arms.

Bield is a registered charity dedicated to providing flexible housing solutions and support for older people in Scotland.

Mounzer opened barbershops in Greenock and the Isle of Bute after moving from Syria to Scotland in 2016. He contacted Crosshill Gardens to offer his services and also left his contact details so that he could return to provide more free cuts in the future.

Some of the residents were getting their first haircut since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and were delighted at Mounzer’s free trims, including Gordon Coe, 76, who said: “I am really happy to have had my hair tidied up. It’s been so hard to get out to the barbers in what has been a tricky past few years. My hair was getting so long, I could have put it in a ponytail! I’m very grateful for what Mr Darsani is doing. It’s a lot of effort to come up to Crosshill Gardens and do this completely for free, we all massively appreciate it.”

Mounzer said: “The support I had from the local community when arriving in Scotland was astonishing. I felt it was only right to try to give back in a small way. I get a lot of enjoyment from talking to customers at Crosshill Gardens and hearing all of their stories so it was the least I could do to help make lives easier for them throughout a pandemic.”

Mounzer has also organising free haircuts at a Bute care home. He added: “I’ll continue to offer my services to the lovely people at Crosshill Gardens, it’s important to me to always try to make a difference and I hope I have made a positive impact on their lives.”

Bield Housing and Care has around 180 developments across Scotland, providing independent living for those aged over 50 years old.