IT WAS a close shave for three pub regulars who lopped their locks for charity.

Bruce King, Geoff Locker and Chris Cropper are all loyal customers at the Royal Oak pub in Copmanthorpe, York.

The trio underwent a hair-razing transformation when they had their heads shaved to raise cash for St Leonards Hospice.

Encouraged by the Royal Oak's licensee manager, Peter Grundy, friends, colleagues and other pub customers rallied round to sponsor them. Marlene Muscroft was in charge of the razors, while Rachel King collected the sponsorship money.

The event, which took place last December, raised £716 for the hospice.

David Winpenny, from the hospice, said: "Having a shaved head in December must go beyond the call of duty, and we are very grateful indeed to these three brave men, and to their supporters, for undergoing this cold experience to raise so much for St Leonard's Hospice."

Meanwhile, a new shop in a very special "chain" is to open in York tomorrow.

Newly-appointed staff at the fifth St Leonard's Hospice shop, in the city's Scarcroft Road, have been getting ready to welcome its first customers.

Shop manager Jan Baines and assistant managers Carol Breslin and Donna Parks have been hard at work in the shop, at 5 Scarcroft Road, next door to Melton's restaurant.

The shop will sell a wide range of donated goods and will also have a special focus on fine linens, for which St Leonard's already has an excellent reputation.

Jan, Carol and Donna are no strangers to the work of a charity shop. Jan

has been relief manager at the hospice's Tang Hall shop for the last three years, and is now looking forward to the challenge of starting up the new Scarcroft Road shop.

Carol has worked behind the scenes for the hospice shop in Acomb for three years, helping sort goods for sale. Donna has worked as a charity shop volunteer, as well as running a variety of enterprises which brought her into contact with the public.

The Scarcroft Road shop is looking for volunteers to help run it. Anyone who would like to volunteer should telephone Helen Moreton at St Leonard's Hospice Fundraising Centre on 01904 781576.

St Leonard's Hospice currently has shops in Acomb, Haxby, Pocklington and

Tang Hall.

Updated: 09:31 Thursday, April 24, 2003