A man is preparing to say goodbye to his one-sided ginger beard after raising nearly £10,000 for charity over half a year.

Chas March, 44, from Epsom Downs, grew the strange beard as a bet for Movember but decided to keep it when donations kept flooding in.

During the course of the charity challenge, Mr March said he also developed an alter ego, known as Arthur Beard-Face.

From Feb 5: Epsom man with half a beard develops alter ego called Arthur Beard-Face

But he has now decided to shave off his facial hair at the end of April.

Mr March said: "Half a year for a half a beard it turned out. We have done really well, it’s been a bit of an adventure." Despite it being a positive experience overall, he admitted the beard did attract unwanted attention.

"You get strange looks wherever you go so that gets a bit wearing," he added.

He told friends and supporters in an email: "We are now in the last month of beard wearing. As reported last time the end of April is the end of the beard."

The beard challenge has funded the refurbishment of mental health charity Wiltshire Mind’s first shop. Mr March's father is a trustee and his mother a volunteer at the charity based in Melksham.

Mr March said: "My father has worked tirelessly and his energy and enthusiasm know no bounds. The target for the opening is the end of the month. We are just shy of £9,000 with a month to go and your generosity is overwhelming."

He said his beard bid all started out in November, a time when some men grow moustaches to raise money and awareness about men's health issues including prostate cancer during a campaign called Movember.

Earlier this year, he said: "I have chosen not to trim this side and let it grow out as it wants. It looks strange.

"Myself and my alter-ego, Arthur Beard-Face, are in our 13th week together and are planning to remain in partnership while the donations keep on coming."

To donate visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=ChasMarch

Visit Mr March's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006322002349