ONE Weymouth man’s charity challenge will be a cut above the rest as he prepares to attach balloons to his dreadlocks and chop them off to raise money for Shelter.

Stuart Lloyd, 42, a warehouse operative at Exchange Supplies, said he wanted to do something unusual to raise cash for the cause.

“I promised my family I’d get my hair cut when I was 40 and it’s two years past that now, so it’s the right time. I’ve been growing them for 23 years and the longest one is three foot eight inches,” he said.

He added: “Of course, I am feeling nervous. My hair has been a bit of an icebreaker in the past so I’m quite intrigued about how people will treat me differently. It’s been a part of me for over 20 years. It’ll feel strange after it’s done and I have got no idea what sort of hair cut I’m going replace it with, because I have only had three hair styles my whole life.”

Asked how his friends and family have reacted to the news he is finally getting a haircut, Mr Lloyd said: “They do think it’s funny, and have been making up puns like ‘he’s dreading it’ or ‘it’s a hair-raising challenge’ and so on. They said it’s time to grow up as I have a fully-grown child now.”

Speaking of his inspiration to raise money for shelter, Mr Lloyd said: “It’s all about getting money for Shelter. Living in Weymouth I see homeless people every day, but there doesn’t seem to be any overnight centre there or in Dorchester. I would ask people to say how they feel knowing winter is coming and these people have to sleep outside, with no heat or cover.”

Mr Lloyd is encouraging people to go down to watch the challenge when it takes place at 2pm this Sunday, at Chesil Beach viewpoint near the Heights Hotel.

He said that if the wind is blowing in the right direction the balloons will hopefully fly right over the Bay.

He said: “It’s kind of a cathartic thing really. It will be a lifestyle change and I’m literally letting go of the old me, how hippy-ish!”

To donate to Stuart’s fundraiser, visit justgiving.com/stuart-lloyd23