ACADEMY hairdressing students have volunteered to turn people into punks at a fundraising event in memory of a charity worker who died the day before he was due to get married.

Lee’s Bright Red Alert will be held at the Demi, in Consett, on Saturday, March 22, in memory of Lee Robson, a father-of-two who died of leukaemia the day before he intended to marry partner Sue Smith.

Billy Robson, Lee’s dad and chief executive of the YMCA, will have his head styled into a red Mohican by sixth form students of Stanley’s North Durham Academy on the night.

Heather Ferguson, hairdressing tutor at the academy’s Symmetrics Hair and Beauty Salon, said: “Billy came in and told us about his son and the charity they were raising money for.

“We were quite moved by his story.

“When he told us about the punk event we agreed to go to the venue on the night with sixth form students and dye and style his hair into a bright red Mohican and do the hair and make-up of others there.”

Mr Robson said the event had been arranged by Kevin Blackwood, who knew Lee very well.

He said: “My friend Billy Glynn has already donated £100 to me and offered to donate another £100 if I had my hair done as a punk.”

The event, from 6pm to late, will feature the bands From the Gut, Toxic, Sex Generals and include a auction and raffle.

All proceeds, including money paid to the students for their work, will go to the blood cancer Bright Red, for its Lee Robson Grant to help patients pay for parking and other costs during hospital visits.

Tickets are £4 from 01207-502680 or Mr Blackwood on 07769-296881, or on the door.