Staff at The Market Inn in Sandwich have dyed their hair pink in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Five members of staff - manager Aileen O’Leary and her employees Melissa Brown, Darragh O’Shea, Tom Welch and Steve Willey - from the pub in Cattle Market took on the challenge to tie in with Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

They collected hundreds in sponsorship money, while also raising awareness for the Mercury’s charity of the year.

The group also hosted a fundraising event in the pub on Friday with a raffle which brought their overall fundraising total to a hair raising £2,400.

Ms O’Leary said: “Without the support of family, friends and regulars who generously donated to this really worthwhile cause then we couldn’t have raised what we did. Being an Irish woman a few of the customers were beaten into submission to hand over their hard earned cash for all their cheeky comments.”

She paid thanks to Danielle Clowting for giving up her time and efforts to dye the five participants hair, also those who donated to the raffle; The Salutation, The Hop and Huffkin, The little curiosity shop, Tangles Hair Salon, The Fruit Bowl, The Strand off license, Sandwich Bookmakers, Lawfords Sweet Shop, Stonar Cafe, Sandwich River Bus and The Sandwich Storage Company.

Breakthough Breast Cancer ambassador Kerry Rubins was presented some of the money by cheque this week. Googlebox star Dom Parker from Sandwich joined the gang for the presentation.

Miss Rubins said: “It has been a real pleasure supporting Aileen and her staff. Aileen has an extremely bubbly personality and a very big heart. She put everything in to the fundraising to make sure it was a great success!”

Ms O’Leary and her staff have also raised £350 for Macmillan and £125 for Pilgrims Hospice in other fundraising ventures including Ice Bucket Challenges.