A St Ives church service will be interrupted by a charity head shave in January, with some of the funds raised going into the building’s refurbishment.

Tony Walker will be joined by a stylist from Kings Barbershop, in The Broadway, to shave off his beard and hair in aid of the St Ives Methodist Church Project 200.

“I normally keep my hair and beard very short but I have not cut it for four months,” said Tony.

“By now my beard is 75mm long and very bushy. I have had my beard since my teenage years except for two short clean shaven periods 40 years ago. I am as curious as the next person to see what is hiding under the hair.”

“The church was refurbished 30 years ago following a fire and since then very little has been done to the buildings,” he added.

“The church premises are used by hundreds of people during the week and in church services on Sundays. We have decided that we need to bring the buildings up to modern standards so that we can better provide for the people using them.”

In total, it is thought the work will cost £350,000.

Tony, who already has hundreds of pounds pledged by friends at Nene Valley Gliding Club and The St Ives Choral Society, says he will also give five per cent of the money to Crisis – a national charity for homeless people.

The head shave will take place during the café service on January 15.