A Woodford Green businessman remains hopeful that his cousin - Spurs striker Jermain Defoe - will soon visit his recently opened salon.

The Premiership forward was meant to officially open The Wood, a hairdressers in Snakes Lane East, on Friday, its first day of business.

But Defoe couldn’t support his cousin Tyrone Marcelle, 27, in person because of his travel commitments ahead of Spurs’ clash with Everton.

Mr Marcelle, who lived in Woodford Green for 15 years before recently moving to Stansted, said: “He was getting on a plane so he couldn’t make it.

“We’re getting him to come down this week and see if he can bring more Tottenham players down.”

The Premiership club, which lost 1-0 to Everton with Defoe playing the full game, trains in Chigwell.

Mr Marcelle said trade was busy on the opening day, with young people visiting to play on an in-store PlayStation.

He said: “It will take a little while before people know we are here.

“A lot of people have told me they’ve been going to Forest Gate and Ilford to get their haircuts.”

The salon aims to cater for both European and African-Caribbean hairstyles.