BY George, it was hair-raising stuff!Ex-Town boss George Burley's swapped the sidelines for the hair salon at a charity fundraising event held in memory of his best friend and former assistant manager, Dale Roberts, died of cancer in February earlier this year.

BY George, it was hair-raising stuff!

Ex-Town boss George Burley's swapped the sidelines for the hair salon at a charity fundraising event held in memory of his best friend and former assistant manager, Dale Roberts, died of cancer in February earlier this year.

Blues stalwart Mr Roberts was just 46 when he died of non Hodgkins Lymphoma in February.

The charity head shave and back-wax took place at the John Michael hair salon, in The Walk, Ipswich to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Mr Burley was let loose with salon director Michael Hallam's hair, while Dale's 17-year-old son Mark and George's son Stuart, 21, also agreed to have their locks lopped off.

"It's the first time I've done anything like this, but I've been practising on sheep all week!" George said.

"I'm just glad I'm on the other side of the chair. I'm not letting anyone near my hair– my ears are too big!"

Speaking about his friend, George said: "He went through so much in a short space of time and I'm very pleased that so many people are here tonight. He would be very proud.

"Cancer is something that affects so many people so it's great that we can do something like this to help raise money and awareness."

The event was the brainchild of salon director Michael Hallam. He said: "The salon used to sponsor Dale when he was at Ipswich town and I became good friends with him. We just wanted to do something positive in memory of him and this seemed like a good idea.

"When Dale lost his hair because of his treatment he always used to laugh and say it was ironic that he was sponsored by a hairdressers, so the idea stemmed from that."

Over £2,000 has been raised so far and money is still coming in. Mr Hallam hopes the final figure will be in the region of £3,000.

Plucky punters Dave Allard and Ray Burgess, whose wives are customers of the salon, were even brave enough to have their backs waxed. Ouch!