A RETIRED window cleaner became a familiar figure for a few weeks following a charity fundraising stunt.

Joe Angus agreed to have half his beard shaved to raise money for the regional children's cancer unit at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI).

The removal of half the beard took place before regulars at his local pub, The Brooms, in Ouston, near Chester-le-Street earlier this month.

Since then, Mr Angus has stood out from the crowd with his half-shaven look while on his travels around the village and in nearby Chester-le-Street.

Drinkers at the Brooms and other pubs Mr Angus frequents helped him raise £400 by the time he had the other half of his beard shaved off, in the Falcon Pub, South Pelaw, Chester-le-Street.

Mr Angus used to enjoy a lunchtime pint in the Falcon on his window round. He chose the pub as the venue to have the rest of his beard shaved off because it was the plight of the landlord's nephew that inspired his charity efforts.

Seven-year-old Daniel Thompson, son of landlord Brian Thompson's brother David, has been undergoing treatment in the children's cancer unit and the collection was a way for locals to say thank you.

Mr Angus said: "I grew the beard deliberately just to have half shaved off.

"I've had quite a few strange looks since then, but people have been really good.

"Word has got about and strangers have come up to me and given money when they heard what it was all for."

Mr Angus was particularly grateful to customers in the Brooms and the Falcon, as well as at Ouston Social Club, Relton Terrace Workingmen's Club and the Durham Light Infantry Association at Greenbank Social Club, in Chester-le-Street, for donations which helped him reach £400