AN OAKWORTH woman who was inspired to take up massage as a career after treating her grandmother now has her own Keighley premises to offer her services locally.

Rachael Small opened Healing Energy Massage in Russell Street at the beginning of last month. (August)

She was previously based in a room at the back of a nearby estate agents.

Miss Small offers aromatherapy massage, Swedish and deep tissue massage, sports incorporated treatments, reflexology and facial treatments.

Two other women are due to begin using her shop as a base for their own healing businesses.

Miss Small began providing massage to customers nine years ago, and previously had a business in Cavendish Street.

She said: "It was my nana who first inspired me. I used to go from Long Lee to where she lived in Bradford to massage her shoulders and feet.

"That was when I was only 12 or 13 years old and she'd say, 'Rachael, you've got to do this when you're older'.

"I'm also a qualified hairdresser, but when I stopped doing that I started aromatherapy and I felt like I'd found my niche.

"After that I went into massage and then reflexology."

She said her new outlet had been "packed" since she opened.