A SHOP worker ‘braved the shave’ in the full glare of staff and customers to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Wilco worker Alison Parker said goodbye to her shoulder-length locks when she had her head shaved near the entrance of the firm’s Chester-le-Street store.

She said: “Last year myself and a colleague did something similar and raised more than £200 so I thought it was definitely worth doing it again.

“I think it is such a worthy cause. My own father has memory problems, although he hasn’t actually been diagnosed with dementia, but you never know what’s around the corner. Dementia affects a lot of people.”

Ms Parker raised money through sponsorship, and staff were also on hand with collection buckets which customers contributed to.

Her close shave, on Wednesday, was a carried out by colleague Pam Wharton, who used to be a hairdresser before joining Wilco nine years ago.

She said: “Alison is very brave to have this done at the front of the store with staff and customers watching. I don’t think I could do that.”