CROWDS flocked to the Orford Hotel on Saturday night and handed over their hard-earned cash to watch grown men weep while raising funds for Warrington Mencap.

Big-hearted fundraisers Steve Higginson, Dave Irvine and Mark Rankin placed themselves at the mercy of regulars and staff at the pub in a sponsored leg wax.

Each year, landlord Peter Smith arranges a series of events to raise money for handicapped youngsters in the town in memory of Geoff Kerr, a regular at the pub who died two years ago.

Regulars agreed to help his widow, Hillary Kerr whose daughter, Lisa, is mentally handicapped to raise money for Mencap.

The hair-brained idea started off as a joke suggestion by Orford regular Dave Irvine, who was forced to eat his words when he sat under the spotlight, with customers queueing to peel off strips.

And they certainly weren't ripped off. Landlord Peter had to prize the gooey notes apart when he counted the donations, and this year's appeal looks set to raise more than £1,200.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so by calling in to the Orford Hotel.