FACTORY worker Les Brennan is feeling a little lighter today after his beard of more than 28 years got the chop.

The charity stunt has raised more than £1,200 for a worthy cause and left Les feeling a little chilly.

Portlander Les, 48, had his six-inch bushy beard cut by Kathy Maw from Keith's gent's hairdressers in Lynch Lane, Weymouth.

The deed was watched by dozens of Les's colleagues from DEK Printing Machines, where he has worked as a material handler for ten years.

He said: "I'm feeling a little chilly especially with this air conditioning in the factory.

"It feels very strange as I've not had my beard cut since 1973.

"But I'm very glad I went through with it and raised so much money for charity."

Les, who is married to Joyce, chose to raise money for the Claire Lemmon Fund, the Weymouth-based charity that supports children with cancer and leukaemia.

He says the fund is close to his heart as his eight-year-old godson Daniel Barnes of Litton Cheney died in the summer of 1995 after a battle with cancer.

Les added: "I think I've raised about £1,250 and there's more still to come. I'd like to thank all my family, friends, work colleagues and the businesses that supported me."

Les said he will probably be growing his beard back after a few weeks.