A former mayor has 'braved the shave'.

Ex-police officer and Congleton borough mayor Andy Barratt has raised hundreds of pounds for Macmillan by shaving off all of his facial hair.

Having smashed his initial target of £300, he has now set his sights on bringing in £3,000 for the cancer support charity.

Speaking after the shave on Friday (September 26), Andy said: "Some people say I remind them now of Uncle Fester from The Addams Family, but I like the bald look on top.

"I'm going to keep my head the way it is and re-grow the beard."

Andy before 'braving the shave' on Friday (Credit: James Browne)

Andy, who used to be a prop forward with Macclesfield and Congleton rugby clubs, is the charity steward for the Freemasons of Eaton Lodge who meet in in Congleton.

He organised Friday's Macmillan coffee morning at the Masonic Hall in memory of three lodge members and two members' wives who lost their lives to cancer.

His efforts, as well as those of others supporting Macmillan's annual coffee morning in the area, received praise from local MP, Sarah Russell.

She said: "Thank you to everyone who has been attending, baking for, or hosting Macmillan coffee mornings.

"It's such a caring community.

"Andy is an inspiration, and I'd like to thank both him and Vinny for the money they are raising."

Andy has had his hair, beard and eyebrows shaved off (Credit: James Browne)

Andy's effort also earned the approval of the National Association of Retired Police Officers, of which he is a member.

NARPO district secretary Archie Arbuckle said: "Andy must be a popular guy in Congleton. Donations have poured in from the start even though many people were waiting to see the before and after pictures before giving."

"Well done Andy. All your colleagues at NARPO are proud of you."

Andy's trim was completed by hairdresser Vinny Brennan, who owns his own salon in Congleton town centre.

It was a tense moment for the 20-year-old, who was being watched by his old boss, his mum Amy.

She said: "Vinny was my apprentice when I ran a hair salon and he did his first charity shave in aid of The Little Princess Trust when he was 15.

"He was a quick learner. Two years later Vinny was the first winner of the Quif Center Stage Award in 2022, something which celebrates the artistic skill, stage presence and social talent of hairdressers across the UK and.

"I am very proud of the hairdresser he has become."

Hairdresser Vinny with his mum, Amy (Credit: James Browne)

You can support Andy's fundraiser here.

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