A barbers shop in Egremont has come up with a variety of hair raising ways to generate income for community projects such as sports teams and hospital wards.

The Lad Barbers - owned by Gary Sommerville and managed by his sister, Kelly Kirkbride - has raised hundreds of pounds which is all spent on local causes.

Mr Sommerville said: "We are always looking for ways to give back to the community that helps us survive as a business."

The shop has previously sponsored the local Egremont Rugby League youth team, the men's team and also the local Windscales youth football team.

They hold free haircut days, where they ask people to put a donation into a bucket instead of being charged. The most recent free haircut day made £200, which the shop doubled to £400.

Local print company AS Design gave them a reduction of £200 and hoodies were printed for the youth team at Windscales.

Gary said: "We pick our busiest day and we promote it as much we can to make everyone aware."

David Branney, youth secretary for Windscales, said: "Gary and Kelly are doing wonders for sport and the community in Egremont. They support rugby and football.

"They've done a lot for us, they had a free haircut day and had a donation bucket and Kelly worked flat out all day and they bought our under 14 team hoodies. They've been absolutely great, they messaged us to see if they could sponsor our strip too. I was shocked about the hoodies, the lads thought it was great, most of them use The Lad Barbers, so they were chuffed to have their logo on.

"On presentation night recently Kelly bought a trophy for the U14 Lad Barbers player of the year."

The shop has also started raising money for the Henderson suit in Whitehaven hospital.

Gary said: "We auction and raffle memorabilia given to us by sporting stars.

"Right now we have a South Sydney Rabbitohs top signed by the Burges brothers that will be raffled. We also do a free day every year on our birthday," Gary added.

The shop's latest community scheme is their new loyalty cards, which will benefit both the wider community and regular customers.

When a customer gets a haircut their loyalty card is stamped. On the fifth haircut the money they pay will go towards a community project. On their tenth stamp they will get a free haircut.

There is a potential for a pot of around £5000 if all 500 loyalty cards are used.

The shop are asking for ideas on how this pot could be used.

People should contact the barbers via their Facebook page The Lad Barber Egremont or call in to the shop with ideas.