A YORK body piercer is hoping to raise hundreds of pounds for Imperial Cancer Research by carrying out his most difficult assignment - a spinal piercing.

Jon Archibald, who runs a clinic in Micklegate, is planning to insert 20 piercings along the spine of customer Lisa Cowam during a four-hour procedure next Sunday, September 30.

The sponsored event, which requires a team of six to carry it out safely, is set to raise hundreds of pounds for the charity, chosen because Mr Archibald has been struck by cancer twice. During the procedure, which is due to start at around 11.30am, a camera will be set up in the studio so that people in the waiting room can watch it happening.

Mr Archibald said: "You end up with a spine looking almost metallic.

"But it's one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult places on the body to work for a body piercer."

Mr Archibald said he carried out the first spinal piercing four years ago, when he inserted 56 piercings down a man's spine.

He said: "On the first one I did, when the guy took off his shirt, the amount of people that looked around and were completely shocked was amazing.

"It was great because he wanted something completely unique.

"The procedure is not actually that risky, I'll be keeping an eye on it all the way through the next two or three months, making sure everything is okay.

"It's Lisa's job then to look after it properly."

If anybody wants to sponsor the event they should contact The York Body Piercing Clinic is at 64 Micklegate on 0792 9144965 or pop in on the day.

Updated: 10:07 Saturday, September 22, 2001