WEIRD and wonderful hair-dos will be on show across Basingstoke and Deane on Friday as people fundraise for a local hospice.

St Michael’s Hospice is hosting its annual Mad Hair Day event on Valentine’s Day, and people in schools, businesses, shops and other places are being encouraged to get involved by styling their own barnets in an unusual fashion.

To drum up support for the event, which is now in its 13th year, a Mad Hair Day bus was out and about visiting Basingstoke schools and venues last week.

Students from Basingstoke College of Technology hairdressing department visited 30 venues, including 16 schools, in a bus donated by Stagecoach, to offer advice on how to achieve the ‘mad hair’ look.

Lynne Grimshaw, community campaigns co-ordinator at the hospice, said: “We are delighted that this year’s Mad Hair Day is going to be the biggest ever.

“The support we have received from local businesses and schools has been fantastic, and the money we raise will help the hospice provide the very best services for local people suffering from life-limiting illnesses.”

It is hoped that the event will raise around £8,000 for the hospice, based in Aldermaston Road.

The hospice provides care and support to people in north Hampshire through in-patient, day care and hospice-at-home services.

All services are free of charge but the hospice must raise more than 80 per cent of its £3.6million running costs through fundraising.

Iain Cameron, director of income generation at the hospice, said: “The support of the local community for campaigns such as Mad Hair Day makes a huge difference to our fundraising.”

For more information about supporting Mad Hair Day, or holding an event, call Lynne on 01256 848848 or email lynne.grimshaw@stmichaelshospice.org.uk for a fundraising pack.