LOCAL company 3SDL, based at Malvern Hills Science Park, has been raising money for charity with a beard growing competition.

For the past six weeks the participants have been letting their beards grow in order to raise money for forces charity Help for Heroes.

The company works in the defence sector and many of 3DSL’s employees are ex-servicemen or ex-MOD civil servants, so the charity is close to their hearts.

3DSL has set itself a target of raising £5,000 for Help for Heroes by next May. It’s next fund-raiser will be a glamorous charity ball at Worcester’s Guildhall in February.

Programme group manager Mark Johnson said: “It’s only been going for six weeks so we’re not quite talking ZZ Top but we’ve got about 12 guys that are sporting a beard of some kind of another.”

To see how much the company has raised or to make a donation visit justgiving.com/3sdl.