A KEIGHLEY pensioner couple felt liberated after having their heads shaved in support of a friend fighting cancer.

Elizabeth and Philip Deighton went under the razor at Cavendish Street salon Hair Avanti as part of Macmillan Cancer Care’s Brave the Shave campaign.

They wanted to raise cash for charity while expressing solidarity for their friend of 30 years, who recently underwent chemotherapy for breast cancer, and whose hair had just started to grow back.

Philip, 68, said he and his wife were concerned about the experience of their friend as she underwent hospital treatment.

He said: “We noticed how distressed she was and how badly affected she was by the loss of her hair. We thought we’d do the same in sympathy, and see how much we could raise.

“It’s a case of sharing our love with someone we care about and other people we haven’t met.”

The couple initially raised £25 from their head shave but money is still coming in.

Philip said: “Elizabeth had panic attacks to start with but was determined to go through with the head shave. She is now amazed how liberated she feels.

“She’ll be growing back her hair in the normal way. She looks good now, but she’d like something she can get permed.

“To be honest I’ve wanted to have a shaved head for a while. It’s easier to get ready in the morning. I don’t have to worry about doing my hair.

“Lots of people have responded positively and we wear the Brave the Shave t-shirt when we’re out.”

Philip said his hair was now like Velcro and caught on his clothes as he pulled them over his head.

But there has been a positive spin-off from the head shave: the bald head highlighted a skin problem Philip had suffered 30 years without realising.

The condition, a little like cradle cap, can be dealt with easily by his GP.

Elizabeth and Philip grew up in different towns on the Yorkshire East Coast, and during their married life lived in Leeds and Bradford before moving to the Strawberry Street retirement flats about three years ago.

Anyone who wishes to sponsor the couple can pay into the MacMillan Cancer Support collection account at NatWest, London, Millbank branch, Westminster SW1, using the reference HA2018.