FOR 10 years he was the image of a hairy biker. But now Matthew Hipkin has had his beloved locks shaved so that a cancer survivor can have a wig.

Cowley resident Mr Hipkin has not had a proper haircut in the past decade.

The full-time house-husband, who has a three-year-old son Leo and been a keen motorcycle rider for two decades, ignored years of suggestions from friends he should cut his hair.

But when the 41-year-old was made aware that the Little Princess Trust – a charity providing wigs for children suffering hair loss from cancer treatment – could recycle his hair, his opinion was swayed.

The former call centre manager finally got the shave at Persia Hair Design in Florence Park Road on Saturday. He said: “It felt very odd having my hair cut and I can’t believe how my head feels now.

“My son is absolutely fascinated by it as he hasn’t stopped stroking it.

“I get a great feeling knowing that it is going to a charity, and to be able to provide a child with a real wig. I believe it will give them that little bit more confidence instead of having a synthetic one.

“I can’t remember how or why I found out about the Little Princess Trust, but I had so many friends asking me to cut my hair.

“When I found out that they made wigs for children suffering from hair loss, it made the whole thing worthwhile.”

Mr Hipkin said it cost about £300 to create the wig from the recycled hair, so decided to get sponsorship for the shave to fundraise for the process.

He added: “I raised most of the money through Facebook and I had a lot of donations from friends as well.”

Mr Hipkin’s wife Abby, a 34-year-old research and training administrator, said she would miss his “lovely thick hair” but was delighted the shave will go to the charity.

* To donate, visit justgiving.com/matthew-hipkin