BARMEN became baremen when they were given a close shave in aid of charity.

Phil Isherwood, 44, (left) and Ray Westwood, 32, who work at the Bull's Head, Redlam, Blackburn, had their heads shaved on behalf of The Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust. Hairdresser Alison Hartley did the scalping!

The event was set up to continue the hard work begun by supporters of six-year-old Glenn Challenger who found a bone marrow donor through the register.

Glenn, of Nares Road, Blackburn, had his transplant at three and now attends St Peter's RC Infant School, Blackburn.

Ray, who already had short hair, agreed to have a 'Kojak' if Phil lost his longer locks.

Phil said: "We agreed to do it to continue the work started for Glenn Challenger.

"It's a worthy cause and Ray will be wearing his Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust T-shirt at the Munich beer festival."

The pub also held a raffle for the charity during the antics, which began at 4pm on Saturday, with prizes donated by Thwaites brewery. And regulars promised to dig deep for the Blackburn branch of the national charity set up to help people with incurable illnesses find volunteer bone marrow donors.

There are currently over 270,000 people on the British register, making it the largest volunteer list in the world.

But Blackburn Friends Chairman and Glenn's aunt Hilary Ashworth explained that it costs £50 to add each new person to the register.

She added: "Tissue-typing the blood of potential volunteers is a complex process which must be right."

Anyone who can help should contact Hilary Ashcroft, of the Blackburn support group, on 01254 691107 or Mr Joyce on 0161 446 1151.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.