A CHILDMINDER raised more than £200 for Children In Need by dyeing his hair shocking red.

Mark Todhunter, of Lunedale Road, Mowden, Darlington, became a redhead to raise cash for the charity and draw attention to men working in child care.

"I stand out already as I'm often the only man in an all-female environment so I thought why not stand out even more," he said.

The 35-year-old father-of-two is studying for a Child Care and Early Years qualification at Darlington College of Technology and is on the committee of Darlington Childminders' Group.

Sunderland fan Mr Todhunter, whose hair is naturally mousy, said: "My hair looks very bright and I do feel a little self-conscious, but it's all for a worthwhile cause. Next year I might go for red and white stripes."

His hair had to be bleached then dyed at the Talking Heads salon in Cockerton Green. The process took two hours.

He said: "I want thank everyone for raising so much cash."