WILD and wacky hairstyles dyed various colours were sported by hundreds of people who took part in a fundraising drive for a Basingstoke hospice.

More than 30 schools, clubs and businesses joined in with this year’s Mad Hair Day, which generates vital funds for St Michael’s Hospice.

At Winklebury Junior and Infant Schools, children donated money to come to school with crazy hairstyles.

Rose Harris, 10, said it took her mum nearly an hour to create her original do, which included two cupcakes on the side of her head.

She said: “I saw a girl with cupcakes in her hair stuck on, and I thought I could it in using my own hair instead. My mum had to put buns in my hair and used cupcake cases with holes in around it. She stuck on pompoms in the middle. People keep wanting to eat them!”

Christine Clayton, headteacher of the two schools, in Winklebury, said: “We had a visit from the Mad Hair bus, which came in a week before the event, and the whole school got together, and members of staff volunteered to have a mad hairdo as well.”

The Stagecoach bus, which had Basingstoke College of Technology hairdressing students on board, toured the town ahead of Mad Hair Day, to inspire people to get involved.

Mrs Clayton said: “We invite children to come in with mad hair and bring a donation for St Michael’s Hospice. They do enjoy it. It’s a bit of fun and we use it as part of our citizenship education.”

At the hospice, in Aldermaston Road, staff, volunteers and patients also got into the spirit of the day. A competition was held to find the best Mad Hair Day volunteer and patient.

Francis Pimentel-Pinto was declared the winner of the best patient hair. The 80-year-old, from Hook, who donned a frizzy wig, said: “I was surprised – I didn’t expect to win.”

Rod Stewart, who has volunteered at the hospice for 10 years, was announced as the other winner.

The 70-year-old, from Oakley, said: “It’s amazing being a volunteer here. It’s fun, the patients are great, and it puts things in perspective.”

Lynn Grimshaw, community campaigns co-ordinator for St Michael’s, said she hoped Mad Hair Day would generate around £8,000 for the hospice.

She added: “We have had fantastic support from everyone who has got involved.”