STUDENT Michael Burden had a close shave to help his fundraising friend Sarah Richards pay for a hair-raising experience of her own.

Mr Burden, 19, of Victoria Terrace, Calne, had his shoulder length locks shorn to a 'number one' cut to help fund Miss Richards' charity parachute jump, which takes place in August.

Mr Burden is studying for a maths and physics degree at Keel University, and is working part-time in his home town of Calne as a shelf stacker for Somerfield.

His colleagues had teased him about the length of his hair, last cut in February 2001, and he finally relented to have it shorn, but only if it was for a good cause.

He started raising sponsorship and decided to donate the proceeds to Miss Richards, 17, who also works at the store, for her project. She needs to raise £400 to take part in the fundraising parachute jump, in aid of Cystic Fibrosis.

Miss Richards' mother Ann Richards, said: "I think what he did was brilliant.

He said if he was going to do something that drastic he was going to do it for a good cause."

Mr Burden finally raised £140 from his hair shave. He said: "The amount we raised just shows how much people disliked my long hair.

"It feels very strange without my long hair my head feels really light.

"I'm definitely going to grow it back."

With Mr Burden's help, Miss Richards has smashed the £400 target with a month to spare.