WOULD-BE soldier David Watkins knew he was going to have to bite the bullet and have his lengthy locks chopped off one day ...so he decided to do it for charity.

The Clacton Marks & Spencer sales assistant arrived at work with shoulder-length hair – and went home at the end of the day with a skinhead crop.

Staff and shoppers watched as David, 20, said goodbye to his tresses for the last time.

Shop manager Ashley Mills joked: “He’s in danger of getting sunburned ears now, because they haven’t seen the sun all summer!”

David, who lives in Clacton, is about to join the Army and jumped at the chance to take part in the fundraiser, as part of the store chain’s 125th anniversary celebrations.

The stunt raised more than £115, which will be shared between the Clacton branch’s charities, the RNLI and the British Heart Foundation.