Grey-haired pensioner Joan Shaw will be giving her friends a shock after dyeing her hair bright red.

The 77-year-old, from Barnoldswick, took the daring decision to raise money for the Barnoldswick and Earby Bosom Friends cancer support group and for Help for Heroes.

Speaking after having her hair done last week Joan said: “It’s very bright.

“It’s certainly a bit different but it’s all for a good cause.

“It took around three and a half hours to do in total.

“I will be out and about in the town so it will be a shock for some of my friends.”

Joan has been a volunteer with Bosom Friends for a number of years and said she wished they had been around when her husband, Bert, died from cancer 17 years ago.

She said: “I would have loved someone to talk to at the time and I know the monthly support group that Bosom Friends started this year is much appreciated. But both charities do such a lot of good work, it is good to support them.”