A CITY archaeologist is shaving off his beard and hair for a hospice caring for seriously ill children.

James Dinn, Worcester City Council archaeological officer, is swapping his salt and pepper locks for a barber’s buzz cut to raise cash for Acorns Children’s Hospice.

He said losing the beard that has been with him since he left university about 30 years ago was just a small price to pay.

“I know people who’ve had experience of the hospice and it’s been a great benefit to them,” said the 52-year-old.

“They do tremendously good work and, of course, like all charities at the moment, they’re having trouble raising the money they need.”

Mr Dinn will visit his regular barber Pauline Luckman at Pod in Sidbury on Thursday, April 2, during his lunchbreak before heading back to work to show off his new look to colleagues.

To lend your support log on to justgiving.com/jamesdinn and give a donation.

Mr Dinn will swap Worcester for the wild when he joins a group of hospice fund-raisers canoeing along the Zambezi river in Africa in August.