A full head of long pink hair fell to the ground at a Norwich pub on Monday as a Coltishall woman showed solidarity with one of her best friends, who has been diagnosed with cancer.

It was Jackie Matthews, 42, who braved the clippers during a fundraising afternoon at the Coach and Horses pub in Union Street on bank holiday Monday.

The mother-of-three pledged to have her hair shaved off as her friend of 26 years Carole Wuenschmann, also 42, from West Earlham, was diagnosed with rectal cancer in March of this year.

Carole, who is a care worker for Norfolk County Council, has undergone aggressive treatment for the cancer this summer and will be going back for scans to check her progress next month.

Jackie had set herself a target of raising �1,000 for Cancer Research UK, who Carole says have been a great help to her and her family, and had already raised �900 before the fun day.

Carole said: 'I can't believe she's doing it. I lost my hair at the sides and had a bald patch at the back but it is growing back now.

'The volunteers at Cancer Research UK helped us out enormously with offering us support, they've been brilliant.'

Shaving her hair was a significant step for Jackie, renowned to her friends for lots of different styles and colours over the years, but she also felt it was a significant statement for any woman.

She said: 'For a woman, hair is symbolic of femininity so it is a big thing to have it all chopped off.

'But I love Carole to bits and hopefully this will help raise awareness about cancer research, because we all know somebody that has been affected by cancer.'

As well as a barbecue and fun day at the Coach and Horses, there were some impressive raffle prizes set to boost the fundraising well over its �1,000 target.

A Norwich City shirt signed by last year's promotion winning squad, signed gloves and a picture of boxer Jon Thaxton, a shirt signed by top comedian Lee Evans at his recent show at the Norwich Theatre Royal and a signed picture from the cast of EastEnders all made for some sought-after prizes.

To boost Jackie's fundraising go to www.justgiving.com/Jackie-Matthews, and see next Tuesday's Local Life to see how she looks after her head shave and how much was raised.

Are you doing something daring for charity? Call Local Life editor David Freezer on 01603 772418 or email david.freezer@archant.co.uk