A teenage student at The King’s School had a close shave in aid of charity after being inspired by a stranger’s battle with cancer.

Nat Pinney, 17, let his best friend cut off all his hair after an auction which raised more than �200 for Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF).

He got the idea after cancer sufferer John Watson delivered a moving story to pupils about people not being able to see his disease.

The sixth-form student decided to do something very visible, and having also lost his father to prostate cancer in 2008, said the head-shave was partly a way of connecting with him.

“I didn’t know him very well, and I wasn’t able to see him during his chemotherapy, so this was sort of relating to his experience,” he said.

At the school auction three people were tied on the highest bid, but only one of them wanted to perform the head-shaving, his friend Luke Griffiths.

“He absolutely hacked my head, he shaved a line right down the middle and then left me with just my sideburns,” he said.

“I looked ridiculous!”

But he said other pupils have since approached him in the corridors to offer more donations, although not everybody is too pleased with his new ‘look’.

The 17-year-old, who lives in Payhembury, said his mum was ‘a bit horrified’ when he got home, and admitted he had to buy a hat after last weekend’s cold weather.

Sarah Shaw from ELF thanked Nat and the school for their support, adding: “I think he’s very brave!”

If you would like to donate money to Nat’s fundraising then contact The King’s School on 01404 812982, or drop into reception.