North Walsham's mayor is on the hunt for hairy men to take part in a charity strip-a-thon.

Vivienne Uprichard wants brave volunteers to get in touch and help with her swansong fund-raiser as town mayor, in aid of North Walsham's new hospital.

She hopes to break the �2,000 barrier with a sponsored strip-waxing event at the town's Black Swan pub on May 17 at 7.30pm.

Mrs Uprichard plumped for a strip-a-thon after friend Richard Backhouse, 61, from Hillington, near King's Lynn, suggested the idea and offered his chest and legs for the cause.

'Now I'm laying the challenge down to the men of North Walsham and district to step forward and get sponsors,' said Mrs Uprichard. 'They can have whichever hairy bits they want waxed.'

Mrs Uprichard has already raised about �1,600 for the hospital's league of friends through a charity Dutch auction last autumn, and from the collection at the civic service marking her term of office, which ends on May 29.

She said a professional beauty therapist would carry out the waxing and urged men to get in touch so that she can send them sponsor forms.

Mrs Uprichard was a member of the community involvement panel which worked with health chiefs on plans for the new 24-bed ward.

It replaces the 1920s hospital on the Yarmouth Road site and is due to open on May 8.

She added: 'Choosing the hospital as my charity seemed the logical thing to do - I wanted to support a local cause. The town fought so hard to keep its hospital and it's great that they succeeded. North Walsham needs its own hospital.'

? For sponsor forms, ring Mrs Uprichard on 01692 402908, or North Walsham Town Council (weekday mornings) 01692 404114.