A HEADTEACHER has pledged to wear shorts every day for an entire year after being challenged to brave the winter bare-legged.

Paul Naughton has endured an Ofsted inspection, a black-tie dinner and freezing temperatures while dressed in shorts.

The father-of-three, headteacher of Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in Byermoor, near Stanley, started his challenge in July to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Mr Naughton said: "Luckily I haven't had to attend any funerals yet, but I do sometimes worry about looking unprofessional.

"I do absolutely everything in shorts, including teaching. A lot of people think I'm a little bit strange at the best of times, but more recently we had Ofsted in.

"One of the first things the leading inspector asked me was, 'Can I speak to the head teacher please?'

"I told him I was the headteacher and he gave me the longest, strangest stare you would ever imagine."

Mr Naughton added: "The first few months were a breeze. However, from November it has gradually started to get a little tough at times, in the morning at the school gate and during break and lunch times duties. I do get some funny looks."

The 43-year-old was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2010. He beat the disease after undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy and now hopes to raise hundreds for the charity which helped him during his treatment.

Mr Naughton added: "Everyone is touched by cancer at some point in their lives so most people will have had experience with Macmillan.

"Wearing shorts every day has its problems, but it will be worth it for the cause.

“It hasn't even started snowing yet, I've got it all to come. I hope that's when I'll raise the most money and people will feel sorry for me trudging to work in the snow in my shorts."

Mr Naughton has not slipped up once during his challenge in the last six months and says this is partly down to his children Jack, 11, Zara, nine, and Charlotte, seven.

He said: "They don't let me get away with anything. Sometimes when it is freezing at night there is the temptation to put long pyjama pants on for bed but the kids won't have it. They're making sure I stick to it 24/7."