NELSON songwriter Jay Stansfield has promised to allow barbers to shave his head ‘to the bone’ with traditional razors, if he can raise £1,000 in sponsorship money for Pendleside Hospice.

The troubadour, who lives in the Little Marsden area with his wife and five-year-old daughter, Maisy, felt moved to do something for the hospice after his grandmother passed away earlier in the year after suffering from cancer.

“They are a fantastic charity and I just felt like I wanted to help them help others.

“I want to do this in memory of her and my target is £1,000”.

Jay has received around £500 of sponsorship money already and is eager to smash his target, but admits he is nervous about going hairless at Funk Odessey Barbers, in Colne.

“I’ve never ever had a bald head and I am really nervous about it. I quite like my hair and I’ve no idea what my wife’s going to think.”

Jay attended Colne Primet High School and began playing in his first band, Element, with his school friends when he was 14.

The band enjoyed remarkable successes such as being twice invited to perform for DJ John Peel’s legendary ‘Sessions’ at the BBC and gaining fans all over the world.

Life is quieter now for Jay, who says that performing solo suits his family life more now than performing with other musicians, but his recent output has been greatly received by local critics and radio stations such as BBC Radio 6 Music as well as further afield.

Jay is currently recording his second album, Gobstopper, at this home studio in Nelson and says many of the songs are influenced by his grandmother’s passing.

Speaking about his most recent work, Jay said: “A lot of people shy away from death, but it is a part of life that affects everybody and I’m quite pleased with how it’s sounding so far.

“My grandma was always very supportive of my music and I’m sure she would have liked it a lot.”

To sponsor Jay, visit http://justgiving.com/jay-stansfield