THREE daring Royal Mail employees had a hair-raising experience to raise cash for St Rich-ard's Hospice, the company's charity of the year.

Jane Pudge, aged 46, and 49-year-old Carol Ball, had their heads shaved, while colleague Alan Osborne put himself through a chest wax.

The trio, who all work at Royal Mail's Wainright Road offices, even invited a big audience to watch the spectacle which took place at Worcester Row-ing Club.

Jane explained: "We had two hairdressers standing by and a local beautician ready with her waxing kit for Alan.

"We'd heard about the work of St Richard's Hospice and wanted to support all their caring work locally.

"I had shoulder-length hair, so it was quite a shock when it was all lopped off.

"I've got my hat ready now and I'm hoping it will have grown a bit by the time I have a couple of parties to go to."

Alan added: "I was dreading the pain of having my chest hair ripped out at the roots by molten wax, and my wife and kids laughing at me but it was for a worthwhile cause, and it was worth the pain."

Royal Mail offices and sites across the UK are raising funds for hospices as part of their 2006 corporate adoption.

St Richard's fund-raising manager Tricia Cavell said: "It's great news that Royal Mail has chosen to support us, and the local staff are really getting behind the idea of finding ways to work with us.

I think Jane, Carol and Alan are fantastic sports going for the big shave - it's a great way to raise money from their friends and colleagues for St Richard's. I just hope it warms up a bit or they'll be reaching for the woolly hats!"

St Richard's Hospice is currently based at Rose Hill, Worcester, but the new hospice is currently being built near County Hall and is due to open for patients in the autumn.

Fund-raisers need to generate the £2.8m which will be needed annually to provide the specialist care and support for patients with cancer and other life limiting illnesses, together with help for their families.