Paul Smith, second left, receives the cheques from landlords John Harris, right and Jackie Rossi and, left, Iain Forbes who has since grown back his beard (30753)A GOOD cause persuaded a man who had been bearded for 24 years to submit to the razor. Iain Forbes, 57, shaved off his beard to raise money for the Dorothy House Hospice, Winsley, supported by staff and fellow regulars at the Beehive pub, Bradford on Avon.

Landlord Jackie Rossi said: "He said provided we raised £500 in sponsorship he would shave it off. It was the first time we had done something like this since we took over last year and everyone responded very well.

"They are all really nice, generous people."

Customers of the pub, in Trowbridge Road, rallied round and raised £520 in sponsorship and Mr Forbes shaved off his beard on May 21.

There were smiles all round on Friday when Paula Smith from Dorothy House came along to the pub to receive the cheque on behalf of the charity. Customers also took part in a fundraising cribbage night, which raised a further £162 for the hospice.

Mrs Rossi and fellow landlord John Harris took over the Beehive last year and Dorothy House was already a charity supported by the pub, so they decided to continue fundraising efforts.