Solicitor Andrew Mairs of Belfast firm Keenan Solicitors has announced he is giving up his distinct long locks for charity.

Mr Mairs has raised more than £2,700 on JustGiving to cut his hair, which will then itself be donated to make wigs for children undergoing chemotherapy.

Explaining his decision on his fundraising page, Mr Mairs wrote that the suggestion came from a cancer nurse while he was at a hospital to work on a client’s will.

He pondered “all the comments over the past five years since I had long hair - withering looks from my mother, confused looks from the judiciary and compelling attacks by my friends” and decided to go for it.

Mr Mairs explained: “The seed was sown, and so once I reach my target, the hair will be plaited into four lengths and will be cut off at the root, to be sent to be blended with artificial hair to make wigs for children who lose their hair during chemotherapy.”