MEN across the region can breathe a sigh of relief as they finally get the go-ahead to shave their facial hair following a month of keeping their moustaches for charity.

Hundreds of males have taken part in the increasingly-popular month-long event Movember, which helps raise money for issues affecting men’s health including prostate and testicular cancer as well as mental health issues.

One team of budding "mo-growers" from The New Inn in Waterley Bottom has raised over £2,000 - as well as a few eyebrows - with their efforts.

The team, called Fluffing in the Bottoms, have had regular “support group” sessions at the public house to talk about their experiences and to keep each other motivated.

With more than £1,500 raised so far, and at least another £550 pledged in donations, the team have been ranked in the top 400 of over 25,000 teams registered nationally.

To celebrate the achievement and to have one more evening of fundraising, The New Inn hosted a Mogress Party on Saturday (November 30).

Marketing and events coordinator Amanda Rossiter, who organised the charity push, said: “All of the members would like to say thank you very much to everyone who has donated to this very worthy cause.”

Dursley’s firefighters have also been getting in on the fundraising with eight of the crew generating over £700 for growing their moustaches.

Crew commander Andrew Searle, 54, who raised over £100 himself, said it had been good fun whilst helping a good cause.

“Some of us have never had one and it is certainly different. Personally it gets on my nerves but some of the guys said they might keep it," he said.

"It’s not a big deal to do it for charity.”

Mr Searle added that the crew had got quite a few comments from people saying they looked like they had come from the seventies when attending incidents in and around the town.

He also gave special mention to fellow moustachioed firefighter Lee Halford from Woodview Road whose efforts earned him over £200 in donations for the cause and thanked Paul Easingwood and Our Dons for their donations.

Stroud District Council also took part in the November event, with male colleagues joined by female staff sporting false moustaches, raising money for charity and providing health information.

The council team have so far raised £200, with money still flowing in.

Hairdressers Peter Hickman in Dursley had its own take on the event, with manager Ashley Williams offering free “tash trims” to anybody who donates at the salon.