A NORTH-EAST nurse had a literal “close shave” while he was raising cash for an autism charity.

Frazer Porritt is a staff nurse at Newbus Grange, a specialist autism hospital near Darlington. The hospital is part of the Danshell Group, one of the UK’s leading providers of specialist support and care for people living with a learning disability and autism.

The nurse wanted to raise cash for the National Autistic Society (NAS) to mark World Autism Awareness Week and decided to undertake a sponsored head shave.

He said: “Newbus Grange was the first service within the Danshell group to gain NAS Accreditation as an autism specialist provision and we’re really proud of that. I wanted to do something to raise money for the NAS and thought about a head shave.”

With colleague Phil Pavey, a support worker at the service and former barber, taking control of the clippers, it took more than five minutes for Frazer to go from a full head of hair to bald all in the name of charity.

Having fundraised within the hospital, Frazer’s sponsored shave has raised more than £400 for the NAS.

However, one slight issue may arise from Frazer’s good deed – his fiancée, who lives in the US, doesn’t know he has had his head shaved yet.

Frazer said: “I think I may send her a text to break the news. I’m hoping much of it will have grown back by the time we get married in July.

“It was all for a good cause, so I’m sure she’ll be fine about it.”

At least one group will be happy with the result though – Frazer is hoping the sheared hair can be used by wild birds to help them build their nests.