ALDBOURNE’S Stephen Sowerby has braved the shave and had his flowing locks cut off so it can be turned into wigs for children suffering from cancer.

The 44-year-old let his hair grow for almost three years with the intention of having it chopped off for The Little Princess Trust, which provides real hair wigs for children who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment.

“There’s two reasons I’ve done it, both my parents have suffered with cancer,” said Mr Sowerby, who restores vintage cars.

“My dad, Keith, got kidney cancer and it was discovered by chance. He went in for a completely unrelated problem and they sent him off for a couple of scans and they found a cancerous tumour.

“He was treated in Bristol and they operated on it and he was out the next day and was fine.

“My mum, Barbara, suffered quite severely with it, she suffered from non-Hodgkin lymphoma and had six courses of chemotherapy.

“It just knocked her sideways. She lost her hair and it really did put her through the mill but she’s made a complete recovery now.

“The other reason is I have an old school friend who lives in America who did this about five years ago, so I thought if he can do it, I can do it.

“I’m a bit nervous about having it so short, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.”