MORE than 40 men went under the clippers this weekend to raise money in memory of a friend.

Regulars at the Burton House pub, in Burnopfield, near Stanley, had their heads shaved, while others submitted to leg and chest waxes, all done by volunteers from the Natural Beauty salon, in Rowlands Gill.

The event, on Saturday, was in memory of Mark Forster, who died from leukaemia in October last year, aged 26. More than £2,500 was collected and the total is expected to top £3,000 to be shared between Leukaemia Research and ward eight at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

It was organised by David Dobson and John Woods of the pub's football team, Burton House FC.

Mr Woods, 28, said: "I have known Mark since I was five.

"We were part of a big circle of friends in the village and Mark was a good friend to many of us.

"He is greatly missed, and for this reason we thought it would be fitting to take a weekend to remember Mark and show everyone how much he meant to so many."

Model Nell McAndrew donated a jacket that was auctioned off at the event and there was music from local band Backtrack.

Tonight, former Newcastle United star Malcolm MacDonald will host a charity football talk at the pub, and tickets have sold out.