IT was a close shave when David Wren tried to reach his target of raising £30,000 for charity.

The former Swindon mayor took the plunge and had his hair and beard cut off after he came within a hair’s breath of reaching his target during his term in office when he raised £28,000.

The big chop took place in the Brunel Shopping Centre in front of shoppers yesterday.

Coun Wren had initially intended to try and raise £5,000 with a full body wax but decided to reduce his project to a head and beard shave.

He has had a beard for 40 years and admits he is vain about his appearance.

He said giving up his crowning glory was a tough decision to make but he was delighted to do it for charity.

“My chin hasn’t seen the light of day for so long,” he said.

“My beard has been with me through man and boy and this was the perfect reason to shave it all off.

“I wanted to do something that would shock people and hopefully persuade people to donate more money.”

His head shave raised a total of £180.

“I am very pleased to have raised this amount of money,” he said.

“People who have donated have been overly generous and I can’t thank them enough.”

His term in office has seen him support a number of local charities, including the Swindon Down’s Syndrome Group, Swindon Guide Dogs For The Blind, Thamesdown Hydrotherapy Pool, Leaves and radio station Swindon 105.5FM.

He said: “Although my time as mayor has come to an end, I aimed to reach the target I set out with when I first took on the role a year ago.”

Once he was minus his trademark beard Coun Wren’s wife Sinead Darker and their daughter Lesley, said they were shocked by his new look.

“I would have given him £1,000 not to shave if off but when we got home I realised he look quite neat,” Sinead said.

And Lesley saw the funny side to her father’s appearance.

Coun Wren said: “She stood there for half an hour laughing but by the end she was quick to say how proud she was of me.

“There were no mirrors while they were taking away my hair so I had no idea to how I looked.”