TEENAGE apprentice jockey Richard Evans had a close shave on Sunday night - but not when riding in a race.

He gamely volunteered to have all his hair shaved off, providing punters at the social event he was at gave generously for a cancer charity. It was a gathering organised by his father David Evans at his home Ty Derlwyn, Pandy for owners of the 70 horses he trains, as well as for family and friends.

The inspiration behind the fund-raising came from one of his stable lads Toby Cooper because the family wanted to do something special in memory of a dear friend, Dr David Bissett who died of cancer in July at the age of 58. They invited his widow Roe along to receive the money which was collected on the night.

Seventeen year old Richard was joined by his big brother Anthony, a 29 year old landscape gardener who lives in the Cotswolds. He said: "I did not know Dr Bissett, but when I heard the money was going to a cancer charity I also volunteered because my mother Eraina died from the disease in 1989 at the age of just 26. I cut Richard's hair and our sister Megan, who is 16, cut mine, using dog clippers."

He was full of praise for one of the racehorse owners at the gathering, Arwyn Morgan, who is a butcher in Builth Wells. Anthony said: "When he saw me and Richard having our heads shaved he agreed to have his sideburns shaved off by me and Richard, and he has had them for 47 years, so that raised more money."

Altogether they raised more than £2,000 and this was presented by Mrs Bissett to Mrs Mabel Lewis, former chairman of the Abergavenny branch of Cancer Research Cymru who thanked everyone for their generosity.