SOME go to great pains to achieve their dreams - but few go to the lengths of one Ilkley teenager.

Sixteen-year-old Richard Bennett, of Leeds Road, knew he had to come up with a novel fundraising idea to help him raise the £3,000 he needed to join friends on a trip to Tanzania this summer.

The challenge he came up with was to endure a sponsored full body wax at an Ilkley beauty salon. Richard surprised some of his friends by going through with the challenge last Saturday at Esprit Health and Beauty salon on Wells Road, although it proved to be a much more hairy experience than had anticipated.

The full waxing session took no less than four and a half excruciating hours in total, and the Otley RUFC Under 17s and Yorkshire Under 17s rugby player admits it was something of an ordeal.

"I sympathise with women everywhere now," he said. "My chest and stomach are still quite sore and my skin's gone red. It was more painful than I thought in some places, like the top of my chest."

The beauty salon offered to do the waxing session for free.

Friends were genuinely surprised when he went through with the challenge, and now those who sponsored him are having to pay up.

Richard said: "They were quite shocked I actually did it. A few of the more sadistic ones were disappointed I didn't get my head done as well."

And he faces another ribbing when he takes to the rugby field this weekend. He was unable to play last weekend because of a frozen pitch.

Richard believes the stunt could have raised around £900 for the trip, which will see the Prince Henry's Grammar School student join friends from Ilkley Grammar School to do voluntary work in Africa and climb Mount Meru. Richard is now planning more fundraising events to make up the money he needs to go to Tanzania.

PICTURE: Not for the squeamish - Richard finds it no laughing matter as he undergoes a full body wax. Doing the honours are Diane Priestman and Helen Seed.