IT IS going to be a cold winter for gardener Gary Arnold.Mr Arnold, known to his friends as Arnie, decided to get rid of his beloved waist-length locks to raise money for Somersham Ward at Ipswich Hospital where cancer patients are cared for.

IT IS going to be a cold winter for gardener Gary Arnold.

Mr Arnold, known to his friends as Arnie, decided to get rid of his beloved waist-length locks to raise money for Somersham Ward at Ipswich Hospital where cancer patients are cared for.

The head shave came almost ten years to the day that his mum Linda had been given the all clear from breast cancer. He has raised around £200 for the ward.

Mr Arnold, 31, is a gardener at Belstead Brook and decided to have his head shaved at the hotel.

He said: "I was going to do it last year and mum said that this year would be the tenth anniversary of her being given the all clear so I did it now instead.

"I started growing my hair around ten years ago and have only had it cut four times since."

Mr Arnold, from Grebe Close, Ipswich had just started at college when his 39-year-old mum was diagnosed with breast cancer.

He said: "It was really frightening and was a big shock to the whole family.

"But the amazing thing is that mum just turned it all on its head and now counsels other people and does lots of fundraising.

"She did not run away from it and is now there for everyone else."

And mum Linda could not be more proud of her son.

She said: "I think its fantastic.

"I even phoned him the night before to ask if he was really sure about it but he said he had made up his mind."