LIKE may good ideas, it started in the pub — the Clovelly Inn to be precise — and ended up raising more than £1,400 for local charities.

Graeme Bence from Germansweek was challenged to shave off his beard, which he has had for more than 20 years.

Graeme chose three local charities to support, with sponsors being able to choose which charity their money should go towards.

Graeme —and his rescue cat George — presented Okehampton Cats' Protection League with a cheque for £303, while the Devon Air Ambulance Trust received £508 from the event.

Perhaps closest to Graeme's heart was the Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF), which received £602 from the beard shave.

Graeme chose this group in support of his friend John Barton, a patient of the Haematology Unit at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, and chairman of ELF's Okehampton Supporter Group.

Since its formation in January, the Okehampton group has raised almost £7,000 for the charity.

Mr Barton said: 'Money like this is totally, critically important because the facilities and training it can provide is just outstanding.

'It means patients can be treated by specialist staff using specialist equipment.

'I am so grateful to Graeme and everyone who sponsored him, and I've already bought him a pint or two in thanks!'

Sarah Shaw, fundraising manager with ELF, said: 'Every donation we receive is absolutely essential, as we rely totally on voluntary contributions.

'This money means we can support local people with leukaemia, lymphoma and other blood disorders.'

Of course the question remains: will the beard make a come-back?

Graeme isn't sure: 'Well my wife Kate isn't sure about my beardless face — she's never seen me without the facial hair before! Mind you, people keep commenting on how young I look, so I may keep shaving!'

l ELF Okehampton Supporter Group's next event will be an auction at the Clovelly Inn on December 3.

Auction lots include a family ticket to Holiday on Ice, as well as a luxury carriage ride in a chauffeur-driven Bentley.