SUPPORTING his favourite football team can be a hair-raising experience for hospital porter Lol Vickers.

But Lol will suffer rapid hair loss to entertain fellow Sunderland fans at a charity event following their return to a County Durham village after Saturday's home game with Coventry City.

The 43-year-old Black Cats' fan has volunteered to have a total head and beard shave as part of the fun at a charity race night staged by the Langley Park branch of the Sunderland Football Club Supporters' Association.

Village barber Brian Furbanks has agreed to perform the honours at the event, in the Ram's Head pub, Langley Park.

Lol has groomed what fellow branch members call a "Robinson Crusoe" beard in recent weeks, purely for the event, staged in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The branch has handed over £100 from its funds towards the charity, while local businesses are also pitching in to boost the total.

Lol, who makes regular donations to cancer charities following the death of his father, Charlie, from the illness, is happy to oblige.

Wife Clair said she is "ecstatic" he is to lose the beard, although she has a few reservations about the loss of all his hair.

Everyone is welcome to the race night, which starts at 8pm. All proceeds will add to the charity fund.