A MUCH needed summer haircut for a Colchester plant-grower is doubling up as a charity money-spinner.

Peter Frid let slip to colleagues at Perrywoods Nurseries in Kelvedon that he was thinking about getting his shoulder-length hair cut, as the weather warmed up.

And an off-the-cuff remark about doing it for charity turned into reality, when he had his head shaved in aid of the Lymphoma Association.

Mr Frid, 26, of Bell Close, Stanway, said the charity is close to the hearts of the staff at Perrywoods, as it was this form of cancer that claimed the life of one of their colleagues.

"I haven't had it cut for about 18 months and I didn't really want to when it was cold and we had frosts and snow.

"But I work in the greenhouses, growing all the plants and getting them ready to sell, and now the weather is warming up my hair is getting too hot.

"Someone mentioned to me I should have it shaved for charity and I think they were taken aback when I agreed straight away.

Mr Frid hopes hundreds of pounds will be raised by the headshave.

"The response has been amazing.

"They got a picture of me and put it up in the cafe with collection tins and customers have been very generous.

"The whole thing snowballed really," he added.

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