TEACHER Nick Thompson is suffering from shear fear - as he prepares to lose his beloved long locks.

His mane is to get the chop today, but with each snip of the scissors an appeal for a special ambulance will be a bit better off.

Nick, 37, is a music teacher from Malton who also plays the fiddle in a western singing band, Los Yobos.

It was youngsters in his violin lesson at Langton Primary School who finally persuaded him to say goodbye to his flowing hair.

"I've been badgered by the kids about my hair and then one suggested I cut it to raise money for the appeal," he said. "I've had second thoughts a few times, but it's starting to go grey and I've got this far with the appeal so I'll have to do it."

After the deed is done he will be showing off his new look when he performs with his band at a beer festival in Malton tonight.

Nick hopes to double the £200 he has raised so far for the Joshua Scarlett-Abbott ECMO Appeal.

The appeal was started by a Langton couple in memory of their seven-year-old son who died from a rare form of cancer.

They are hoping to raise £75,000 to buy a specialist paediatric ambulance to benefit other children.