BIG-HEARTED Paul Bretherton suffered being mocked and going unrecognised by his friends all for a good cause.

The 39-year-old aerial salesman grew a beard for six months - and raised £700 for a charity which takes children with disabilities and special needs on trips to the French pilgrimage town of Lourdes.

He's proud of his achievement but has vowed `never again'.

"It put about 20 years on me - I looked about 60," said Paul, from Bolton, who has been on three of the charity's trips as a volunteer helper.

He says one of the strangest parts of the experience was people he had known for years walking past without recognising him.

"There were days when I was really depressed with it. I think what kept me going was the fact that these children have their disabilities for life and all I had to do was to keep the beard for six months."

But the growth did help him get donations from customers.

He said: "My first words would be, `Excuse the beard. I am doing this for charity.' It was horrendous. But I got a few donations."

The HCPT Pilgrimage Trust takes around 2,000 children and young people to Lourdes each year.

Around 60 of them come from the Greater Manchester area.