TEACHER Bob Elston hopes he has a head for heights when he tackles an ascent part way up the world's highest mountain later this year.

But it could prove a hairless head after Mr Elston offered to have his prized moustache and beard removed as part of the fundraising drive to back his Himalayan adventure.

The more cash donated, the more hair the head of maths at Consett's Moorside Comprehensive School will remove. "I'll have my moustache shaved off for £250, for another £250 I'll also do my beard.

"For £750 I'll have a number three head shave and for £1,000 I'll probably have a cut-throat razor job," said Mr Elston.

Mr Elston is among a party of 18 non-climbers who will attempt to walk to the base camp of Everest at 18,000-ft-plus, to mark the 50th anniversary of the first successful climb to the summit of the world's highest mountain by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing.

He needs to raise £3,000 to meet the cost of May's Everest challenge, with a £2,000-target by mid-February.

Much of the money will go to the charity Whizzkidz, which provides bespoke wheelchairs for youngsters with disabilities.

His fundraising is on three fronts, as apart from school he hopes to win sponsorship from union colleagues through his role as NAS/UWT district convenor, and from members of Durham City Rugby Club, where he is general secretary.

Having successfully scaled Machu Pichu, which stands at just under 15,000-ft, three years ago, he hopes to withstand a further 3,000-ft in altitude in May.

Anyone willing to sponsor Mr Elston can contact him on (0191) 386 3245.