Teacher Hugh Thomas has said goodbye to his whiskers, to raise money for an Aids charity.

Mr Thomas, the head of religious studies at Colchester Royal Grammar School, decided to shed his 20-year-old moustache together with his beard to raise cash for the charity HopeHIV, which helps people affected by Aids in Africa.

New look - Teacher Hugh Thomas during his beard shave.

Hairdresser Kelly Gee, of the Hair Shop, Colchester, agreed to wield the electric razor at the school in Lexden Road for free.

Fellow teacher Adrian Wright said: "He looks very fresh faced. He's had the beard quite a few years."

Mr Thomas raised £600.

Published Thursday November 29, 2001