A Labour supporter who vowed to never shave his beard off until a Labour government comes back into power has hedged his bets and already booked an appointment to cut it off.

Martyn Sloman, from Sharrington in north Norfolk, grew his beard in protest after the 2010 election result, vowing to not shave it off until a Labour government wins again.

It was the first beard he grew and it has remained since.

Now 15 years later, he feels confident enough that his party will win at this General Election that he has made preparations to be clean shaven by Monday.

Mr Sloman, 78, said: "After the dreadful Liberal Democrat and Conservative coalition government came into power, I vowed I would not shave it off until Labour came back into power.

"Feeling confident, I have taken a risk and booked to get it shaved off. Wether I grow it back afterwards will be down to the response from my wife and children. 

"Hopefully I shall die before I ever have to do it again, I got so used to not shaving."

He will be facing the razors on Monday morning at Fellows in Fakenham.