A former military nurse who had been growing her hair for nine months had it all shaved off to raise money for research into ME.

Barbara Shuttleworth sat in the dressing room of the Riverside Stadium, the home of her beloved Middlesbrough, as her hairdresser of 30-years, Stuart Smith, took the razor to her long locks.

The shave has raised more £9,300 which will be used to fund research into incurable condition Myalgic Encephalopathy, which the Bricket Wood resident has lived with for more than 28 years.

The 67-year-old said: “It was great fun and an amazing day out.

“I had my hair shaved in the dressing room and then we went up to the director’s box overlooking the pitch.

“A lot of people were upset I got my hair cut off but I’m delighted with the result. One of the guys said to my hairdresser ‘what do you know – she’s got a lovely shaped head and looks better bald’.

“But it is a relief to get it over and done with, it’s a culmination of nine months of growing my hair. The generosity of people, even those I’ve never met, has been tremendous.”

There is no cure for ME, which causes chronic pain and tiredness.

Mrs Shuttleworth first showed symptoms of ME in 1987 when she collapsed with exhaustion while on a two-week holiday with her husband Ken.

Speaking about the impact the disease has had on her life, she said: "I can’t take part in holidays or family reunions when I am ill.

"At times I was in bed sleeping for 22 hours a day. I didn’t recognise my husband, couldn’t speak English and I was hallucinating.

"ME is devastating. I was lucky because many people with ME do not get a diagnosis for years or not at all.”

Before the illness took effect she was a Captain in the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps in Hong Kong in the 70s.

To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/Barbara-Shuttleworth3/