Three women with ties to a Melksham primary school have shaved their heads to raise money for worthy causes.

The women are supporting two teachers from the school and a third from Rowdeford School near Devizes, who will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, to raise thousands of pounds for their personally chosen charities.

Before the headshave on February 27, the women dyed their hair fluorescent colours to attract as much attention as possible to the cause.

One of those to lose her hair was chair of governors, Beckie Raymond, 39, who sported bright blue hair before it was shaved off.

“We did a special assembly for the children on the Monday after the headshave and came in wearing hats,” she said.

“When we took them off there was just this massive gasp of breath from the kids.

"When we were actually having our heads shaved at the school on the Saturday night, we could see all the climbers at the front of the hall and they were just mouthing 'thank you' to us. It really meant so much to us to do something like this.

"It is a bit weird having a shaved head, it does feel cold and people have stared at me, I think they are trying to work out if I am ill, or if I have just had my head shaved for another reason.

“As chair of governors I would like to say thank you to everyone who supported the event.”

The headshave took place at the school in the midst of a charity fundraising night, with Abba tribute band Flabba entertaining. Ticket sales for the night, along with a raffle, raised £1,500.

Mrs Raymond, who works for the Ministry of Defence in Corsham, was fundraising for Manor School teacher Fiona MacRae, 25, who is climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in aid of Help for Heroes.

The other women to have their heads shaved were Andrea Kemp, a teaching assistant at The Manor School who is supporting assistant headteacher Lucy Swift, 41, raising money for International Childcare Trust, and Ali Wrigglesworth, vulnerable children co-ordinator, who has teamed up with Hannah Brotherton from Rowdeford School for NET Patient Foundation.

Although a total has not yet been counted, it is thought the women raised around £2,000 through their efforts for the three teachers’ charities.

All three teachers will tackle the 19,000ft mountain in Tanzania in June and each is hoping to raise around £7,000.

Anyone who wants to help the women’s fundraising can contact Miss Swift at assthead@themanor.wilts.sch