Five loyal friends have gone bald and raised more than £1,000 to help send their eco-warrior pal on a crusade to save a rain forest.

Plucky Reverend Bryan West, along with pals Jon Morgan, Cass Riley and Margaret and David Sandercock, have all lost their treasured locks to part fund the trip to Central America.

Head to head - Bonnie Burder, from Sophisti-Cuts, gets to work on the Rev Bryan West and Cass Riley Picture: ROB BROWNE

The charity headshave took place at Sophisti-Cuts hair salon in Furtherwick Road, Canvey, under the watchful eye of Castle Point MP Bob Spink.

The money will now go towards the £3,600 goal needed so 22-year-old Alex Morgan can spend five months in a rainforest in Belize.

Bob Spink, who serves as a member of the science and technology committee at the Palace of Westminster, said: "I am delighted to support Alex on her initiative.

"I have spent enormous effort and time bringing attention to this issue at a national level."

Alex, a former pupil at Leigh Beck School, Castle View School and Seevic College, has recently graduated with a first-class law honours degree from Leicester University.

Next July, she hopes to go to the rainforest on a scientific research project. She will spend her time there as a conservation worker and teaching assistant.

She will pay her own air fare and needs to raise £3,600 to donate to the charity Trekforce so she can go on the expedition.

Published Tuesday, January 28, 2003

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