DEBORAH Blye decided to really let her hair down on her 21st birthday – by having it shaved off. She wanted to combat blindness in developing countries by raising money for the charity Sightsavers, and realised she needed to raise a few eyebrows to do it.

DEBORAH Blye decided to really let her hair down on her 21st birthday - by having it shaved off.

She wanted to combat blindness in developing countries by raising money for the charity Sightsavers, and realised she needed to raise a few eyebrows to do it.

So she asked that instead of presents, family and friends should donate money to the charity in return for shaving her head.

After a birthday barbecue party on Monday (19th) and despite her boyfriend's pleas, she went to Michaels hair salon in Hatfield Road, St Albans, to have it all shaved off.

Seven of her friends went along to the salon with her where the owner Michael gave her the cut for free.

After it was finished she was really pleased with the result but her head now feels quite cold so she has started wearing a hat.

So far she has raised £288 and she is hoping to reach at least £500.

Deborah, of Mitchell Close, St Albans, explained that she chose Sightsavers after a charity worker stopped her in the street and pointed out that more than 70 per cent of the world's blind lived in one region of Africa.

She decided to shave her head because it seemed like a fun idea and it was far more unusual than doing something like a bungee jump, particularly for a girl, so it attracted far more publicity.

She said: "My friends and family were quite OK with the idea but my boyfriend said he would give up smoking if I didn't shave my head."

Opinion at the warehouse where she works was divided with some people thinking it was a good idea and others saying she was mad.

Now when anyone stops her to ask why she did it, she ends her explanation by asking them to donate.

To sponsor Deborah go to www.justgiving.com/deborahblye

To sponsor Deborah, click here...Find out more about Sight Savers here...